Enthusiastic locals braved inclement weather to celebrate the completion of the Golf Links Road Upgrade at a special community event on Saturday 22 October.
There were more than 60 people at the event, held at the new community meeting place delivered as a legacy to this safety upgrade project at the corner of Golf Links Road and Baxter-Tooradin Road.
With torrential rain easing just before the event began at 10.00am, community members got their first glimpse of the impressive new art installation created by local Bunurong artist Adam Magennis that will take pride of place in the community area.
As his artwork was unveiled, Mr Magennis spoke about the local area’s rich Indigenous history and its influence on his art centrepiece. Other artworks featured in the area include 2 scar trees that signify a cultural meeting place, carvings in a repurposed log that fell in the project area during a storm in June and a yarning circle. The area is also planted with indigenous grasses and shrubs.
Saturday’s event was an opportunity to thank Baxter and Langwarrin South locals for their patience during construction of the Golf Links Road Upgrade.
Attendees took full advantage of the chance to explore the community area for the first time, while they also enjoyed a live band, face painting – a hit with kids, parents and grandparents alike! – delicious food from local suppliers and take-home native plants courtesy of local nursery Plantmark.
Students from Baxter Primary School had earlier been given a sneak peek of the new community meeting place at a cultural heritage day hosted by the Bunurong Land Council and the project team that marked the start of planting in the area.
During their visit, the Year 3 and 4 students took part in a sacred smoking ceremony to cleanse the area, before speaking about Indigenous culture and history and the Dreamtime stories that have shaped the local area’s rich heritage.
Looking very much part of the project team as they donned hard hats and hi-vis vests, the students then got their hands dirty, planting some of the first shrubs in their new community space.
A big thank you to the Baxter Primary School students for their involvement in this special day.
Major works on the Golf Links Road Upgrade are now complete and all roads are open to traffic. The upgrade has improved safety in the area and made it easier for motorists to travel to Peninsula Link, Somerville, Hastings and Western Port Highway.