Or would you?

How about the `built and natural environment sustainability' department?

It is likely if you asked for that department you would get the assistance you were seeking.

Latrobe City Council has renamed many of its departments and given some of its senior managers what can only be described as long-winded, ambiguous titles.

What exactly does the general manager of `community liveability' do?

And how does the role differ from its former title `general manager city services'?

Assisting The Express in its quest for answers, Latrobe City CEO Paul Buckley said the change aimed to reflect council's 2021 vision.

The long-term plan for the municipality has identified major objectives including `sustainability, liveability, governance, organisational excellence and community capacity building'.

Mr Buckley said the re-vamp was not just about changing titles, but a whole restructure of the organisation to align with the objectives of 2021.

``Internally it makes a lot more sense for us,'' he said.

``People understand where they sit in terms of trying to fulfil the objectives of 2021.

``We want to reinforce with the community the key strategic objectives of 2021 and what we're trying to do.''

Mr Buckley said the responsibilities of each manager and each department were largely the same as before but there had been some minor changes.

He said there was no cost involved with the restructure.

A Latrobe City internal pamphlet provided to The Express by Mr Buckley breaks down the roles of each newly named department.

According to the pamphlet, the area of `governance' includes local laws, property and rates, marketing and communication and media relations.

`Organisational excellence' focuses on corporate planning and reporting, while `community liveability' governs community information centres like libraries, child and family services, community development and health areas such as social support and home care.

`Recreational and cultural liveability' focuses on the municipality's recreational facilities including parks and gardens, also cultural aspects such as the arts and international relations.

`Built and natural environment sustainability' takes in planning and development, landfill services, the environmental strategy, cleaning services, building and outdoor maintenance, along with capital works.

`Economic sustainability' is centred around business development and tourism.

The Express asked Mr Buckley whether he believed there was a trend by large organisations to bombard the public with ambiguous words in titles.

One example perhaps is the over-used word, `sustainability'.

``Unless organisations clearly articulate what their definition of `sustainability' is and what they're trying to achieve, it is dangerous for people to use that word,'' Mr Buckley said.

``Council has clearly defined what we mean by sustainability (in its 2021 vision).

``For me personally it means we leave the place in better shape than what we found it in and not compromise the availability of resources for future generations.''

Latrobe City's 2021 vision document can be viewed at www.latrobe.vic.gov.au for anybody looking to make connections between the management name changes and council's long-term plan.