Council is seeking feedback from the community on the proposed renaming of Undercliff Reserve to Irene Crump Reserve to honour the late local.

Located at the southern end of Freshwater Beach, the reserve includes part of the popular walkway and stairs that form an important pedestrian connection between Freshwater and Queenscliff Beaches.

The premise of the proposal, made on behalf of the Friends of Freshwater Inc, is to recognise Ms Crump’s contribution to securing public ownership of the reserve and saving it from private development.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the proposal is fitting for a much-loved local.

“As folklore would have it, Irene stopped at nothing to save this precious bit of land from developers by climbing a large Moreton Bay fig tree and refusing to come down even when contractors were trying to cut the branches of that tree she was clinging to,” Mayor Regan said.

“She wanted this space retained for local children and spent two months fighting the proposed development in court until eventually the development was scaled back, and part of the land was given for community use.”

Ms Crump also contributed to the community as a prominent environmental advocate and was the Director of Harbord Community Pre-school for over four decades.

Requests to name or rename reserves fall under the jurisdiction of the Geographical Names

Board of NSW (GNB) and for a change to occur Council must show evidence to the GNB that community input was sought and a resolution was made by Council.  

Public feedback is now sought on the proposed name change with comments closing on 26 June 2022. Have your say here.

If endorsed by Council a request will be forwarded to the GNB who also undertakes its own public notification period prior to considering the official assigning of the name.

The proposal is consistent with the Geographical Names Board of NSW Policy – Place Naming as

well as Council’s Naming our Reserves, Facilities and Roads Policy.