One thing that future residents of the suburb of Whitlam will not have to worry about is whether they will have sewerage.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has confirmed the next Canberra suburb up for naming will commemorate Gough Whitlam, who died on Tuesday aged 98.

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In office, one of Whitlam’s achievements was connecting the outer suburbs of Australia’s major cities to sewerage systems and he was a strong proponent of urban development.

Ms Gallagher said the ACT government had discussed with Whitlam and his family the possibility of naming a suburb or division in Canberra in his honour.

“He grew up largely in this city and he’s of course been a very revered prime minister and had a significant impact on the role of Canberra as the nation’s capital,” she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

It would also continue the Canberra tradition of naming suburbs after former prime ministers – 16 Australian leaders have been honoured in this way so far.

The name will likely be bestowed on a suburb within a year, after consideration by the ACT’s place names committee.

Ms Gallagher said her government would also consider naming some social infrastructure after Whitlam.

It has already named the National Arboretum’s pavilion after his wife, Margaret.

With AAP