As work on the Parkes Bypass, Special Activation Precinct (SAP) and road upgrades continue around us, there are now five new bridges in need of names.
Parkes Shire Council has turned to the community seeking feedback on proposed bridge names.
The five bridges up for naming are the bridges on Victoria Street, East Street, Hartigan Avenue and two within the SAP.
Council has suggested two names for each - all but one after a Parkes Shire councillor and a Wiradjuri name - which residents would vote on.
Residents also have the option to indicate if they support the name changes or not.
All survey and written submissions will close at 5pm on Friday, 14 March.
It's all attracted much attention on social media after Council posted about the survey to name the bridges on its Facebook page.
Many residents in response provided their own suggestions, some voicing the bridges shouldn't be named after councillors. Then there were a few questioning why the bridges needed names at all.
The following are the proposed bridge names:
Location of bridge: Victoria Street
The Jack Tanswell Bridge - Jack, a former councillor at Parkes Shire Council, serving from 1974 through the 1980 amalgamation, he dedicated 20 years to the new council. He also served as Deputy Mayor in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997.
Jack also played a key role in the Shire’s development.
Burral (pronunciation Bu-rr-al, Wiradjuri meaning Birthplace) - Name of place or soil upon which a child is born. This bridge leads people to a women's sacred place in the vicinity of the Parkes Christian School.
Location of bridge: Hartigan Avenue
The John Magill Bridge - John served for 12 years as a councillor and Deputy Mayor of Parkes Shire Council. John was also a founding member of the Parkes Christian School and chairman of the board for many years.
Gulaay (pronunciation Gu-l-aay, Wiradjuri meaning Bridge).
Location of bridge: SAP Bridge #1
Yvonne Hutton Bridge - Elected to Parkes Shire Council in 1991, Yvonne served until 2008, dedicating over 40 years to coordinating free Learn to Swim programs. Passionate about preserving local history, she was deeply involved in the Parkes and District Historical Society.
Babirra (pronunciation Ba-bi-rra, Wiradjuri meaning singing) - The former stock route in the vicinity of the first bridge is part of an ancient Song Line.
Location of bridge: SAP Bridge #2
Nelungaloo Bridge - Nelungaloo was named in the late 19th century, originally referring to a pastoral property before becoming the name of the locality. The name comes from the Wiradjuri word for lizard.
Gugaa (pronunciation Gu-gaa, Wiradjuri meaning Goanna) - This road leads to Nelungaloo which means place of lizards.
Location of bridge: East Street
Stanley Gordon (Mick) Miller - Mick was an alderman on the Parkes Municipal Council for 10 years. Life member and foundation member of the Parkes Lions Club. Mick was instrumented in the establishment of the Middleton Public School, ultimately receiving life membership for 15 years' leadership of the school parents and citizens group.
Durrumbal (pronunciation Du-rru-m-bal, Wiradjuri meaning Water Reeds) - That watercourse was used for aquaculture in times gone by.
Head to Parkes Shire Council's website, under the Your Say tab to complete the survey.