Aboriginal design

Four colourful leaf canopies were installed in March 2025, creating cultural landmarks along the shared path. Once complete, the M12 Motorway will feature a total of nine eucalypt leaf canopies spread across the shared user path. Created by Aboriginal artists Barry Gunther (Gandangara), Jasmine Seymour (Dharug) and Jamie Eastwood (Ngemba/Dharug) in co-design with Indigenous design studio, Balarinji, each canopy will be carefully positioned to create inviting rest areas. Six small canopies will provide shade

Work has begun on building six new rest stops at major points along the shared path to provide a small sanctuary for bike users and pedestrians. These rest areas will offer users a chance to stop, rest and learn about the Aboriginal seasons and rich local history. Each interpretation stop is unique, designed to connect you with the landscape and the cultural traditions of the area. The nodes will reflect one of the six Aboriginal seasons with beautiful seasonal planting, informative signage and artwork that

Six overbridge safety screens are embedded with elements of artwork that helps the Great Emu story as unfold as the users travels across the corridor. At the six selected bridges, as part of the M12 Motorway Aboriginal Art Strategy, the design will focus on the six phases of Emu (Mariong) life cycle by displaying a system of panelling to integrate with the bridge safety screens to provide an enlarged art canvas. ;

In addition to artwork, the M12 Motorway project will also celebrate the seasonal flora and fauna signatures of western Sydney by highlighting and celebrating six seasons of Aboriginal community. The seasonal planting will be done at interpretation nodes to ensure the nodes always be in bloom. ;

The Elizabeth Drive interchange acts as a gateway between the airport precinct and the M12 Motorway. The interchange will have indigenous language and a constellation pattern crafted within the walls to act as a start and end point for the Aboriginal interpretation on the project. ;

Eucalypt leaf like canopy structures highlighting the diverse seasons of Western Sydney are incorporated into the art framework of the project. These leaf structures come in two types:Large leaf sculptures - These are larger and used as artistic wayfinding markers within the landscape that can be enjoyed by road users, pedestrians and bike riders. Small leaf sculptures - A single leaf sculpture is located at each interpretation node to provide cultural interest and to experience the land and its seasons withi

Emu footprints of different sizes, quantity and materials are used in a symbolic fashion to represent experiences of people travelling along songlines and singing Country. These footprints can predominantly be found at interpretation nodes to be used as traffic calming devices and provide cultural interest along the shared path. It makes the traveller part of the Emu story and encourages them to find more emu footprint. ;

Located at the airport interchange, 'The Great Emu In The Sky' sculpture will be a 30 metres high Emu's nest that celebrates the Darug Community's sacred creation story of the Great Emu constellation. It will be placed to be visible from a number of viewpoints from road users, shared path users, Metro passengers, and possibly from approaching and departing planes from the Airport. The Great Emu in the Sculpture is formed using a number of signature sticks with minimal repetition to create the nest, with ligh