Stockland opens secondary access point to Cloverton community
Stockland has today opened the $16 million Wilam Wiinj Bridge – previously known as the Cloverton Boulevard Bridge – providing residents with a secondary access point to the Cloverton masterplanned community, in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor.
The 390 metre-long bridge connects Klandy Drive and Donnybrook Road and will help to ease congestion and improve traffic flow around the area. It will provide two-way car access, paths for pedestrians and cyclists, and will accommodate future bus connections.
The Indigenous name Wilam Wiinj means “campfire” and references the campfires seen along the banks of the Merri Creek – which the bridge crosses – by explorers William Hovell and Hamilton Hume in the early 1800s.
Stockland Development Director, James Hawker said the Wilam Wiinj bridge is a key piece of transport infrastructure to support the needs of the growing Cloverton community.
“We’re delighted to open the Wilam Wiinj Bridge today which, alongside the Victorian Government’s upgrade to the Mitchell Street roundabout in Kalkallo, which will improve traffic movements in and around the Cloverton community,” Mr Hawker said.
“We understand the importance of the bridge to the community and this secondary access point will help residents get to and from their homes and work, sooner.”
The bridge has been funded by Stockland in partnership with Hume City Council and City of Whittlesea and was built in conjunction with both councils as well as Melbourne Water and the state Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Member for Kalkallo, the Hon. Ros Spence MP said the Wilam Wiinj bridge will be warmly welcomed by the growing local community.
“This second access point will improve traffic movements for the Kalkallo community and provide relief on Dwyer Street, while planning is underway for the Donnybrook Road upgrade,” Ms Spence said.
The bridge has been designed with two dry culverts and two wet culverts under the bridge to provide a safe passageway of the Merri Creek fauna including the Growling Grass Frog, which is known to reside in the Merri Creek.
Stockland has also worked with the Wurundjeri people and local artists Aunty Kim Wandin and Chris Joy from Murrup Biik to design a steel sculpture of a campfire at the northern end of the Wilam Wiinj bridge. The sculpture, fabricated and installed by Jason Waterhouse from Sculpture Co, represents families meeting together, sharing a meal, and keeping warm in the cold climate.
More information on Stockland Cloverton can be found here.