'Mega' legacy for the New Dubbo Bridge project with local school students invited to leave their mark

School students in Dubbo are leaving their permanent mark on a fixture of the New Dubbo Bridge by placing their handprints on the huge stormwater pipes being installed as part of the project.

Dubbed the ‘Mega Pipes’ event, it will see up to 20 students taking part. 

Transport for NSW Regional Director West Alistair Lunn said the initiative would also be a celebration of the community’s rich Aboriginal culture.

“To recognise the heritage of our First Nations people in Dubbo, we will be using Aboriginal paint colours of red, yellow and black to imprint handprints on the outside of the pipe creating a colourful mural,” Mr Lunn said.

“The stormwater pipes, which are 1.8 metres in diameter, will be installed beneath the new Newell Highway alignment on the western side of the Macquarie River, and will ultimately play a vital role in ensuring the flood immunity of the new road alignment. 

“The pipes will be buried underground, meaning the handprints of the specially selected students will forever be part of this once-in-a lifetime project.”

The first Mega Pipes event is being held on Thursday, 9 May, with a bus picking up selected school students and dropping them back at the end of the event.

The student event is the first in a planned series inviting other schools and Aboriginal groups to also leave their mark.

The New Dubbo Bridge is a joint Australian Government and NSW Government project which will improve traffic efficiency, reduce congestion for locals, visitors and the freight industry, and improve access across the Macquarie River floodplain during extreme weather events.

More information on the project can be viewed at Newell Highway Upgrade - New Dubbo Bridge project | Transport for NSW