A PROPOSAL to change the name of the Mid Western Highway to the Wiradjuri Highway has garnered great interest, with hundreds of submissions believed to have been made to the Roads and Maritimes Services (RMS).
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The 522-kilometre road running from Bathurst to Marsden and West Wyalong to Hay, is the state's only road that exists entirely within an Aboriginal cultural area.
Wiradjuri elder Aunty Flo Grant was a key proponent for the name change when it was first mooted years ago.
Aunty Flo responded to comments that the highway was not developed by indigenous people, saying the track was extremely significant.
"It's written in the stars," she said, adding it was an important track used by Aboriginal people for years.
"It was a pathway the traditional people of this land used well before British people ever came."
Aunty Flo said it was important to recognise Australia's long history "warts and all".
Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire echoed Aunty Flo's sentiment, saying it was important to recognise Australia's past.
"I was at the original meeting with the Wiradjuri elders and am very supportive of the name recognising indigenous history, if the proposal is put forward," Mr Maguire said.
"(In doing this) we recognised the Wiradjuri as the original owners of the lands, I think it's fitting."
Carrathool Shire Mayor Peter Laird has maintained his stance that the name change would be "ridiculous".
"I would hate to see the name changed of a long established road," Councillor Laird said.
"It becomes terribly confusing."
Cr Laird sighted the name change of Ayres Rock to its indigenous name Uluru as "confusing".
"If you were to name something established with a new name, does this lead onto changing Sydney or Melbourne?" he said.
Cr Laird did not object to naming a new road Wiradjuri Highway.
"That would be well and good," he said.
Cr Laird said Carrathool Council had outlined these concerns in a submission made to the RMS.
Wagga Mayor Rod Kendall said his personal point of view was the name change should go ahead.
"I was speaking to an Aboriginal elder at a function and he told me seeing a truck with a sticker stating 'Wiradjuri Beef' gave him an enormous sense of pride," Councillor Kendall said.
He questioned the geographical accuracy of the current name, saying it was important to recognise the traditional owners of the land.
Aunty Flo said the re-discovery of lost Aboriginal languages meant now was the right time to continue to recognise Wiradjuri culture.
Submissions made to RMS, which closed on Friday, will be reviewed, followed by a report.