After a decades-long gestational period the Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA) is on the precipice of being welcomed into the world.

The new 280 hectare locality lies to the north of the new BP Highway Service Centre at the Nambucca Heads interchange.

It is said to contain employment land for around 1,200 new jobs and residential land to accommodate 800 new houses.

Council has envisioned the VUGA will attract a new wave of economic prosperity to the region by offering an alternate source of – much cheaper and highway abutting – industrial land to the Coffs Industrial Estate, and a sizeable package of land reserved for new home builders in search of the coastal dream.

“Ultimately there is sufficient land for the area to be a town of approximately the same size as Nambucca Heads,” council said.

Council has already submitted the first Development Application (DA) for the first eight hectares of industrial/employment land, including five large lots of between 0.18 and 5.29 hectares, and a residue lot.

“We estimate the cost of the civil works will be about $6.5m, not including getting water and sewerage to the site,” council general manager Michael Coulter said.

All the planning and preparations are in place for the birth of the town, now all it needs is a name.

And council needs your help to find the perfect moniker.

To coin the winning town title, the name must be short, easily pronounceable, and not belonging to any living person.

Indigenous names or those associated with the area’s heritage would get bonus points.

During discussion at the meeting, Councillor David Jones said he believed the “naming policy should have the ability to have two different names - an Indigenous and non-Indigenous one”.

But the mayor said she believed the council's naming policy did encapsulate this possibility.

On top of seeking suggestions from the public, council also resolved to consult with a variety of interested groups including “residents in the VUGA area, the Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative, the Nambucca Heads and Valla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nambucca District Historical Society, and the Valla Beach Community Association”.

Any members of the public with suggestions for a place name are asked to forward these to the general manager, Nambucca Shire Council, PO Box 177 Macksville NSW 2447 or via email to council@nambucca.nsw.gov.au

Suggestions will be received until 4pm on Friday, August 31.

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