Indigenous names for road upgrade features

NEW infrastructure delivered as part of the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade have names that recognise the language and story of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

A new bridge over the rail line at Marshall is known as Narriyu, a Wadawurrung word for “top of the hill”, while a shared-use path is called Karndoor, which translates to “track”.

The names are part of a collaboration between Major Roads Projects Victoria (MRPV) and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation (WTOAC) on the project.

WTOAC led a smoking ceremony at a community open day last month to commemorate the namings.

WTOAC chief executive officer Liam Murphy said the names were an important wat for the organisation to share its story.

“Using Wadawurrung language and telling stories through design is an opportunity for the wider community to learn about Country.

“To see Country from the top of many hills, people will walk the Karndoor path, just like our people did for thousands of generations across this landscape following the tracks made by animals to get to the water and wetlands.”

MRPV project manager Matt Armistead said the organisation was grateful to WTOAC for choosing the names.

“The names are another example of WTOAC’s valuable contribution to the upgrade.”

Major construction on stage one of the road upgrade finished in July, adding 4km of new lanes and intersections between Belmont and Charlemont.

The $250 million stage two of the project is now in planning after the state and federal government provided equal funding contributions.

The next stage will duplicate the road to the Lower Duneed Road roundabout in Connewarre.