Help Name West Dapto’s Big Bridge

Wollongong City Council is calling for suggestions for naming the new main bridge in the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive link– and Bridgey McBridgeface isn’t on the options list.

Instead, we’re inviting community suggestions on names that meet specific criteria such as having local Aboriginal significance, commemorate a person, and are appropriate to local cultural, historical or natural influences in the region.

“If you have driven around West Dapto recently, you’ll have noticed things are really moving forward on this new link that will provide flood-reliable access over the South Coast rail line and floodplain,’’ Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“We’re at the point on this extensive project where we’re calling for submissions on the future name of the big bridge.’’

The main bridge to be named extends from Fowlers Road in Dapto and spans the Marshall Street deviation, the south coast rail line and Mullet Creek. The name will need to comply with Council’s Road Naming Policy 2018 and with the Geographical Names Board (GNB) Guidelines.

“There is quite an extensive process that goes on behind the scenes with a decision like this and it’s not something we get to do very often,’’ said Cr Bradbery.

“Naming this bridge will be a very significant step in itself. The Fowlers Road extension is one of the city’s most expensive one-off projects. Like the new Sea Cliff Bridge the naming of this bridge in Dapto will be a significant moment in the history of Wollongong’s transport infrastructure. I would ask everyone especially those in the Dapto area to apply their creativity and generate possible names for this great asset.’’

The Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive Link is due to open in 2020 and will provide a vital connection for the growing suburbs of West Dapto to the Dapto Town Centre, the Princes Highway and the M1.

It is funded by $10 million from the Australian Government, $22.5 million from the NSW Government – Infrastructure NSW’s Restart NSW Illawarra Instructure Fund, $3.229 million interest subsidy through the NSW Government – Office of Local Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme, $600,00 Design Grant from NSW Government – Department of Planning and Infrastructure and Wollongong City Council.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Federal Government was a proud supporter of the project.

“The Federal Government is proud to support projects such as the new main bridge on the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive link in West Dapto,’’ he said.

“They help to build local economies, drive job creation and ensure our regions remain strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term.

“The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government is continuing its long-standing commitment to regional Australia by making vital local projects such as this one a reality.

I’m really looking forward to hearing the name suggestions put forward by the local community.”

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said the NSW Government is getting on with the job in our local area.

“I am extremely proud of the record amounts of funding the NSW Government is injecting into Wollongong and the Illawarra. Be it the Albion Park Rail bypass, the Bulli hospital or this project – we have never before seen more funding coming from a Stare Government to our region. We are getting the job done,” Mr Ward said.

“I along with everyone else in our community look forward to hearing the announcement of the name of the Big Bridge in West Dapto.”

The decision about the bridge name will be made by a Council working group that includes the Lord Mayor and Ward 3 Councillors. Their choice will go to Council for endorsement. The Fowlers Road extension, or the new road, will be named separately to the main bridge.

Suggestions for the bridge name need to be submitted by 5pm on Monday 9 September either via Council’s website, by emailing [email protected] or by filling out a hardcopy Feedback Form which is available at Dapto District Library or Council’s Customer Service Centre in Wollongong.

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