Mallawa bridge named after the late Wally Bunyan
Media Release: Moree Plains Shire Council
RESIDENTS in the Mallawa area along Poison Gate Road have been successful with their application to Moree Plains Shire Council to have the bridge over Browns Creek named as Wally Bunyan Bridge.
Mr and Mrs Madden from Alma Pastoral used Council’s ‘Naming of Public Assets Policy and Procedures’ to put forward a proposal honouring the late Mr Bunyan, who lived and worked in close proximity to the bridge.
Council’s Airport and Support Manager Fiona McClymont explained that the policy provides guidelines to allow the community to put forward and have input into the naming of public assets including bridges, floodways and walking paths.
“The naming of Wally Bunyan Bridge was a collaborative effort from the community who wanted to recognise a local identity and provide a unique bridge name to assist with directional information for road users and emergency services.”
Wally Bunyan
“During the public exhibition period, Council received 10 supporting letters from members of the public.”
“The submissions illustrated Mr Bunyan as extremely skilled horseman, who settled in the area around 1955, working horse teams to delve bore drains. His neighbours and the families he worked for, remember him as a man of exceptional skill, ethics and humility who lived and breathed the rural way of life,” said Mrs McClymont.
Council will install the “Wally Bunyan Bridge” signage on the approaches to bridge in the New Year.
Under the policy, Council does not conduct official openings for existing infrastructure; however locals can arrange their own event, provided Council is notified to ensure there are no traffic control issues.
The Wally Bunyan Bridge is located off the Gwydir Highway (SR12) 1.3km along Poison Gate Road (SR7).