Tasmanian town may rename cricket oval after Donald Trump

‘It is in our best interests to extend the hand of friendship to the new president of the United States,’ says councillor

The small town of Westbury in Tasmania is considering changing the name of its cricket ground to the Donald J Trump park in a gesture of friendship toward the US president-elect.

Councillor John Temple suggested the name change at a Meander Valley council meeting this week, noting that Trump was “likely to be the greatest agent of change this century”.

Despite the chortles of his fellow councillors, Temple assured Guardian Australia it was a genuine suggestion.

He cited the importance of the Australia’s military alliance with the US and the relative exposure of Tasmania as an island, should anyone decide to attack.

Related: Is Donald Trump lying about having a three handicap?

“It is in our best interests to extend the hand of friendship to the new president of the United States, who is not a politician and will likely come at things from a different perspective,” he said.

The response, Temple said, had been mixed.

“The personal conversations I have had have all been positive,” he said. “I have seen things on Facebook calling me an idiot.”

Temple said he suggested the cricket ground not because he believed Trump had any great affection for the sport, but because the oval, known for the giant stumps that serve as a gate to the grounds, happens to be opposite his workplace.

According to local paper the Examiner, the extent of Trump’s interest in cricket is that he briefly followed former Australian test batsman Damien Martyn on Twitter.

The Examiner noted Temple’s suggestion was followed by another question by councillor Bob Richardson, who sought official clarification on whether Trump had promised to “make America great again” or “make America grate again”.

It’s presumed Richardson spelled the pun for the transcript.

It is, Temple conceded, unlikely that naming an oval after Trump would induce the property mogul turned politician to visit the small town of 1,500. After all, there are so many other buildings bearing his name.

If Trump did visit, he would be the most famous person to visit Westbury since 1954, when the Queen and Prince Philip drove through on their inaugural visit to Australia.

According to Temple, some in the town still talk about it.

It is anticipated a presidential visit would have a similar impact.

There is precedent for renaming sporting areas in the Meander Valley council area, shire president Craig Perkins said. The Deloraine football ground changed its name to the Bendigo Bank football stadium after a particularly lucrative sponsorship deal.

“Maybe if he [Trump] wanted to throw some dollars at the cricket club they would agree to change the name,” he said.

Perkins said he had assumed Temple was joking and did not intend to pursue the suggestion, saying: “I would be surprised if that actually came to fruition.”

But he said Trump was welcome to visit regardless. “If he wanted to come over I’m sure we could talk the cricket club into getting him in the batting line-up,” he said. “He wouldn’t be the starter, I don’t think.”

Perkins said he had raised the idea with Trump on Twitter, but “he hasn’t replied yet”.

The suggestion has been referred to the council’s workshopping committee.