Yellow Rock Road and the suburb of Yellow Rock which exist in Shellharbour and Kiama LGAs is duplicated within the Blue Mountains Local Government Area (LGA). Duplicated suburbs, road names and addresses like this can cause issues with emergency services responses, service delivery, navigation, postal services and identity management.
Council will manage the investigation, community engagement and agreement for the solution, guided by the NSW Geographical Names Board (GNB). Solutions proposed by the GNB include:
- Add a prefix or suffix to the existing suburb name.
- Change the duplicated road name in the duplicated suburb.
- Change the duplicated suburb name to a unique name.
- Dissolve the duplicated suburb into adjoining suburb.
Given the implications for Emergency Services response and that fewer residents will be impacted by the name change in Shellharbour and Kiama LGAs, it is the obligation of both councils to resolve the naming duplication.
Shellharbour and Kiama Council will work together to manage the name change process and would like to use the opportunity to celebrate the area’s rich history. Shellharbour and Kiama council strongly support the addition of a prefix or suffix to the existing suburb name to retain the area’s historical connection to the name Yellow Rock- such as “Yellow Rock Creek” or “Mount Yellow Rock”.
The community is encouraged to help find a practical solution that reflects the history of Yellow Rock. The information on this page has been prepared to ensure that each property owner and resident receives the same details before providing feedback.
The History of Yellow Rock
Yellow Rock has been used as a suburb name, creek name and road name in this area since the first European settlers were here. It was named after the sandstone cliffs of Yellow Rock, that many local heritage-listed buildings are constructed from.
Formalisation of the suburb boundary
- The name Yellow Rock was assigned as a locality name in 1973 following a review of place names by the Department of Lands.
- The formalisation of the boundary in Shellharbour LGA was gazetted in 1996.
- In Kiama LGA the boundary was gazetted 1997
- In 2007 Council and the GNB approved an amendment of the boundary between Yellow Rock and Tullimbar
Yellow Rock in the Blue Mountains City Council area
- A public reserve name ‘Yellow Rock’ was gazetted on 9 July 1895
- The name Yellow Rock was assigned as a suburb name in 1972 following a review of place names by the Department of Lands.
- The formalisation of the boundary in Blue Mountains LGA was gazetted in 2004.
Options We have
To start developing a solution we want your feedback on the options. The GNB have suggested the below options:
The implications of each change are:
FAQ's
Yellow Rock the suburb and Yellow Rock Road also exists in Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) area.
Duplicated addresses like this can cause issues with emergency services responses, service delivery, navigation, postal services and identity management.
As fewer residents will be impacted by the name change in Shellharbour and Kiama LGAs, the GNB advises we have an obligation to act. We currently have the resources to facilitate a name change in our LGAs and would like to use the opportunity to celebrate the area’s rich history.
The centralisation of emergency services and address databases have identified the duplications.
As digital technology such as online forms become more common, removing the duplication now helps to future proof the integrity of your address.
In addition, identity management and security are increasingly important to the community. In addition, identity management and security are increasingly important to the community.
We would need to accept that the duplication of the suburb will always be a possible cause for misdirection of Emergency Services response.
Due to the growing nature of the area, there is a risk that number of duplicated addresses could increase.
The Suburb name (along with State and type of emergency) is identified at the 000 Triple Zero Communications Centre before being redirected to the appropriate emergency responder (fire/police/ambulance) of the relevant state.
Official Suburb names are used as your address for all utility connection, license, registrations, passports, proof of ID, memberships, insurances, bank accounts, mortgages, pensions, electoral roll, online registrations, enrolments, deliveries and other personal contracts
After community consultation has been completed for this matter, it is likely that any change will take place in the following year. We will advise you throughout the processes and keep you up to date. Follow the Let’s chat page or leave your email in the survey to automatic updates.
It will take time for GNB to advertise the change and update mapping. We will send you a letter when the change applies to you.
We will advise the following authorities of the address change on your behalf. No other personal details will be transferred.
- NSW Addressing
- Australia Post Addressing
- Australia Post Local Delivery Centre
- NBNCo
- Sydney Water
- Endeavour Energy
- Telstra
- Australian Electoral Commission (NOTE: this may still require you to confirm by going to https://check.aec.gov.au/ )
This can be dependent on you and what services and authorities you have provided with your address.
Here are some suggestions you may need to update:
- Utilities and service accounts – energy retailer, internet/phone retailer
- Driver, motorcycle, boat and other licences
- Home, contents, vehicle and other insurances
- All memberships and contracts, Centrelink, other personal documents
- If you have tenants at a property in this area you must advise them of the changes
- Your address on the Electoral roll - Council will
- assist with advising the Australian Electoral Commission
Updating the address details for some will be more important than others.
We will keep you updated when you need to start notifying third parties.
The result will be a small change to the bottom line of your property address. For example:
Current
B Citizen
73 Stockyard Mountain Road
Yellow Rock, NSW 2527
Would change to
B Citizen
73 Stockyard Mountain Road
Yellow Rock Creek NSW 2527 or,
Mount Yellow Rock NSW 2527
The result will be a change to the road address. For example:
Current:
B Citizen
39 Yellow Rock Road
Tullimbar, NSW 2527
Would change to:
B Citizen
39 ‘new name’ Road
Tullimbar, NSW 2527
No. The legal description of your property is the Lot Number and DP number, which will not be altered.
We will work closely with Australia Post Local Delivery Centre to ensure they are up to date on any changes.
There will be no change if you use a PO Box.
