Page 22 domain.com.au — Saturday, August 11, 2012

Goingfor goldTHE creators of a Border housing estate have been taking more than a sporting interest in the London Olympics, hoping the Games throws up some candidates for street signs.

Riverside Estate at Killara honours Australian Olympic champions in its street names, with Michael Klim, Ian Thorpe, Shane Gould and Neil Brooks among those already recognised.

Swimmer Klim turned the first sod in the project in December 2010, saying Klim Street will be something to show his children and grandchildren.

But with the estate to have 127 streets in total, there is still room for other worthy contenders.

JMP Developments project manager Andrew Stern says the current Games results have not been quite as they anticipated in their search for street names.

“It hasn’t been so far as productive as we were hoping for,” he says.

“We’re wanting to balance newer heroes with olden-day heroes.”

And non-Australian winners remain ineligible.

“Bolt Street would be fantastic, but maybe it doesn’t quite fit in with the theme,” he says.

Mr Stern says the estate has a list of all Olympic gold medallists, but some names may not be allowed because they have been used elsewhere.

Swimmers have dominated the names in stages one, two and three, owing to the land’s proximity to the Kiewa River.

Success at the Beijing and Athens Olympics respectively led to Stephanie Rice and Jodie Henry being among the contingents.

Mr Stern says the streets are named as the estate develops and he expects Border and North-East athletes such as Andrew Hoy and Lauren Jackson to be recognised in the future.

“We thought that this is the theme that best describes Riverside Estate; outdoor living, plenty of parks and walkways,” he says.

Speaking to Domain this week, Mr Stern said the late rush of gold medals for Australia had been fantastic.

“Now we can have Pearson, Meares and Slingsby streets with hopefully more to come.

“And then it’s a case of, bring on Rio.”— JANET HOWIE

Michael Klim was the first, but not the last, Australian Olympian

to be honoured with a street name at Riverside Estate.

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