Linking with our community
CityLink Crossings & Moonee Valley Council Art Project - Evans Street overpass, Moonee Ponds
Melbourne-based studio Everfresh has transformed the internal tunnel walls of a bridge crossing over Moonee Ponds Creek from a dilapidated walkway into an iconic, underground, street-artwork.
The overpass is part of CityLink's infrastructure and crosses over Moonee Ponds Creek. The site was identified jointly with Moonee Valley Council as one that needed urgent attention given its disrepair.
The project, commissioned and coordinated by CityLink, is the latest in a number of community arts projects to improve the popular creek trail which is used by cyclists and pedestrians on a daily basis.
CityLink General Manager Danny Elia believes the benefits of the project are twofold.
"We're really keen to recognise the rich indigenous history and culture in the area, as well as giving the local residents something nice to look at as they use the area with their children and families".
The artists have depicted a dual theme of land and water, inspired by the creek and its surroundings.
The Everfresh team is a well respected collective within the street-art culture and many Melbournians may recognise their work around the city.
The photo below reflects the state of the Evans Street overpass before the art project. 
New images painted on the tunnel walls. For more photos, click here.
Introducing CityLink Neighbourhood Connections!
CityLink Neighbourhood Connections Project
Bronwyn Riddell has made remarkable progress as the program coordinator of Citylink Neighbourhood Connections.
Since July 2009, Bronwyn Riddell has organised over 17 events on behalf of CityLink’s new community program, aimed at bringing members of the municipalities of Melbourne, Moonee Valley, Moreland and Hume together.
The activities help these diverse groups form a connection with both their communities and the Moonee Ponds Creek, which winds its way through their neighbourhoods.
This new program focuses on school students, the elderly, those with disabilities and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Planting days, school presentations, community festivals, senior’s week walks and zoo visits, walking groups, family days out and Clean up Australia Day are among some of the valuable experiences the CityLink Neighbourhood Connections program has offered these communities over the last 6 months.
CityLink General Manager, Danny Elia, has received some thoughtful words from various members of the community, reinforcing CityLink’s belief in the benefits of a community program of this scale.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you so much for giving us this wonderful time for the African community, especially women and children.” Sainaib Sheikh.
Sainaib and other members of the African communities in Moonee Valley enjoyed a fantastic family day out at Geelong’s Playspace in January. The children were treated to a big sausage sizzle and hours of play time in one seriously fun playground, complete with electronic animal sounds, disabled swings and secret tree houses.
Mr. Elia is always a willing participant in family orientated events. “I like to think we take our responsibility to our local communities seriously. Our road is often the backyard setting for many of the community members who participate in CityLink Neighbourhood Connections” he said, “and we particularly like schemes where our staff can take an active role.
Sainab Sheikhat, President of African Women's Network and Somalia Women's
Development Association with Danny Elia and Bronwyn Riddell at Geelong's
Playspace.
Bronwyn and elderly members of the Chinese Community at the Seniors Week
walk – Participants enjoyed a talk from indigenous ranger John, and tasted
bush tucker.
Bronwyn Riddell (far right) is presented with a Kookaburra Multicultural Award
from Parks Victoria recently for her work in the local community.
CITYLINK COMMUNITY PROGRAM
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Our Community Relations Projects
As a Transurban asset, CityLink takes its ongoing responsibility to operate in a safe and sustainable manner seriously. We work to minimise our environmental impact and give back to the communities in which we operates.
One of the ways CityLink invests in its local communities is by supporting projects that deliver social or environmental benefits to its neighbouring municipalities.
CityLink seeks and invites sponsorship proposals across two broad categories:
• Environment – projects that enhance or protect the environment in areas within which Transurban operates and in which Transurban and CityLink staff can take an active role.
• Community – projects that support the amenity, economic development or well-being of communities in areas within which Transurban operates and that our people can take an active role and interest in.
Some of our recent community projects include:
CityLink School Support Program
Since 2002, the CityLink School Support Program has provided the 10 schools within 600 metres of the CityLink corridor with financial support for the well-being of young people.
The annual grants have allowed students to participate in activities that build resilience, self-esteem and well-being. Some of the initiatives include a breakfast program for those who miss this meal at home, an arts program and the expansion of a science group to include a gardening club.
Individual schools have discretion on how the money is spent, meaning they can assist families that may not otherwise be able to afford school camps, excursions or medical fees.
Spring Planting Day
An Aboriginal artefacts display, African cooking and henna painting were among the fun activities at the City of Melbourne’s annual Spring Planting Day at Royal Park on Sunday October 13, 2009.
Transurban representative, Selby-Lynn Nicholas, says the cultural diversity of the day was fantastic, with one of her personal highlights “watching a little Somalian boy learn to play the didgeridoo”.
Everyone pitched in to plant seedlings and native plants along MacArthur Road and The Avenue. The focus of the day was to enhance the local habitat for native birds and insects, and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Neighbourhood Creek Connections organiser Bronwyn Riddell also represented Transurban on the day – in fact she was responsible for bringing together many of the participating communities.
Napier Street Studios
CityLink partnered with Yarra City Council after the success of a Community Arts Project carried out in 2005, where a Youth Services Program run by the council gave young artists the opportunity to create a mural on a prominent CityLink noise wall. The wall was prone to graffiti attacks – which almost completely fell away once the mural was created.
More importantly – CityLink recognised the contribution the project had made to the young artists, who worked with mentors and got some real life experience in all elements of creating a public piece. When it heard the Napier Studios program had lost its major sponsor and was in danger of being cancelled, it was quick to act. Recognising the importance of the program to one of CityLink’s neighbouring communities, we began talks with the City of Yarra and became the program’s major sponsor for 2006, 2007 and in to 2008.
Among its four project works in 2007, Napier Street Studios painted a mural near the climbing walls in Burnley. The artwork reflected the nearby Herring Island and enhanced what is quickly becoming a valuable community space.
Napier Studios aims to create opportunities for emerging artists, promote health and well-being while enhancing social connectedness and youth participation, as well as proving training opportunities to increase the skill levels of young people in order to enhance their future employment opportunities. Working with public spaces, the program also helps to enhance the local community through improving the visual amenities.
PAST PROJECTS
Energy Breakthrough
CityLink Creek Connections
Kicking On
Drains for Our Creek
Kildonan Community Garden