The community is being given the chance to vote for their favourite name for two bridges in Wyndham, so they can be located more easily in an emergency.

The road bridges are over the Geelong Line at Ballan Road and Derrimut Road, and a public vote is now open so people can choose a name for them from a shortlist of eligible nominations put forward through VicTrack’s Bridge Naming Competition.

The Bridge Naming Competition gives local communities the opportunity to name bridges so emergency services can locate them more easily. To be eligible, names must commemorate a local community member or event, and follow the criteria set out by the Office of Geographic Names (OGN).

Five shortlisted names were nominated by the public and met the necessary criteria for the bridge at Ballan Road. These are, Dulcie Shanahan Bridge, George Scolaro Bridge, John Nolan Bridge, Mervyn Smith Bridge and Vic Mayall Bridge.

The three eligible shortlisted names for the Derrimut Road bridge are Nino Arrigo Bridge, Tom Beasley Bridge and Carter Bridge.

The public can now vote for their favourite name from these shortlists.

The public was given the chance to nominate names for a total of five bridges in Wyndham at Doherty’s Road, Derrimut Road, Davis Road, Leakes Road and Ballan Road. They are all road over rail bridges built through the Regional Rail Link Project and look almost identical, meaning they would be difficult to tell apart in an emergency.

The bridge at Leakes Road received one eligible nomination for a name – Baden Powell Bridge. As part of the official naming process, people are being given the chance to object to the name if they wish before it is gazetted.

There is still the opportunity to nominate names for the bridges at Davis Road and Dohertys Road, which received no eligible names through the public nomination process.

For more information and to vote for or nominate a name, visit victrack.com.au/bridge.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“Naming our state’s bridges assists emergency services when they need it most and I encourage people to participate in the Bridge Naming Competition and help name these five bridges in Wyndham.”

“We have some great shortlisted names for two of the bridges relating to people with strong historic connections to the area and people now have the opportunity to vote for their favourite.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly

“The Bridge Naming Competition gives people the opportunity to recognise local figures or even a particular event, so they can be commemorated long into the future.”

“Names can still be put forward for the bridges at Davis Road and Dohertys Road, so now is the time for people to share their ideas for these bridges.”

Quotes attributable to Mayor of Wyndham Councillor Adele Hegedich

“This is a great opportunity for Wyndham residents to name a bridge in recognition of a member of their own community.”

“Not only will the name stand the test of time, but it will also assist our first responders during an emergency.