A new Aboriginal park name for Ballarat’s new 641ha regional park was announced today by the Andrews Labor Government.

The Canadian Regional Park will be given the new name of Woowookarung Regional Park, to acknowledge the deep engagement of the Wadawurrung people with the park and local area.

Woowookarung means ‘Place of Plenty’ which highlights its importance to Wadawurrung for food, shelter, medicine and culture.

An extensive community consultation for the new name was run by Parks Victoria in 2016.

The consultation showed strong support for the new name, with many respondents adding additional comments expressing their deep desire for a name which acknowledges its location in Wadawurrung Country.

Ms D’Ambrosio also announced that Parks Victoria is commencing a wide-reaching community consultation which will guide the planning, design and management of Woowookarung.

The 641ha Woowookarung Regional Park located on Ballarat’s western edge will offer a wide range of recreational opportunities including walking, mountain bike riding and horse riding in selected areas, as well as cultural experiences.

The park will help to protect local native flora and fauna, including threatened Yarra Gums, as well as providing habitat for resident koalas and other native animals and birds.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“The community fought so hard to protect this park and now they have a park named for, and by, the community.”

“Woowookarung Regional Park means so much to so many people and this is an opportunity to breathe fresh life into park planning and management, and bring greater and more creative benefits to the whole community.”

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard

“It’s fitting that Woowookarung Regional Park is now named to reflect its traditional history with this land preserved for people to come together and appreciate it.”