Month: March 2025

ACT Government electric operational vehicles were displayed at King Edward Terrace on Thursday, ahead of World EV Day on 9 September.

While most Canberrans would be familiar with the territory’s electric buses, they may have been surprised to also see electric mowers, a street sweeper, excavator, tipper truck and mini-bus.

Transport Canberra and City Services’ growing electric fleet demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to achieve zero net emissions from government operations by 2040.

Next year, these vehicles will be joined by an electric litter collection truck, which will replace a diesel utility vehicle. Another 94 electric buses are also set to be added to the fleet over coming years.

The bus transition, combined with the introduction of light rail, means 20 per cent of overall public transport trips in Canberra are powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.

The addition of electric buses to Canberra roads is having an impact on Transport Canberra staff, as well as the environment.

Trainer Assessor Jeff works in bus operations, carrying out licence upgrades and in-house training.

This includes showing bus drivers how to operate the new vehicles.

“After extensive familiarisation training at the beginning of the year, I then spent the first initial six weeks teaching drivers how to work the electric buses. Within that six weeks I drove over 200 kilometres just in the Tuggeranong depot training staff, before handing the training over to my colleagues to continue the education,” he said.

To Jeff, the buses present both a big and little change. “Someone asked me how to describe it once and I said they are wonderfully normal.

“They have lots of power, they go very well compared to diesel buses. They are like any new car, it’s always nice to drive something that’s brand new. They go very nicely, they drive and steer like any other bus and are quite comfortable,” he said.

In addition to buses and maintenance vehicles, Transport Canberra and City Services is also ensuring all newly leased government passenger vehicles are zero emissions where fit for purpose.

The target is to transition the entire passenger fleet to zero emission by 2025.

World EV Day presents a great time to showcase the electric vehicles in Transport Canberra and City Services’ fleet and highlight what’s next for the transition.

In its fourth year, World EV Day helps to unite companies, individuals, governments and others for a day of announcements that continue to propel e-mobility around the world.

More information on World EV day can be found online at WorldEVday.org

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The new South Tuggeranong health centre will be built in Conder.

Services at the centre will be designed to meet local needs and will provide residents in South Tuggeranong with more health services, closer to home.

This new facility is the first of four new health centres for the ACT, with another three coming to the Inner South, North Gungahlin and West Belconnen.

They will provide localised multidisciplinary care with a focus on preventive care and advice, early intervention, and the management of chronic illness.

In the 2023-24 Budget, the ACT Government committed $16.6 million over four years to design and construct a new community-based facility in South Tuggeranong, and to plan the sites and early design for community-based health centres in the Inner South and North Gungahlin.

The new health centre will be part of this commitment to plan and build a health care system that can grow with the Canberra community.

It will be designed to have the flexibility to cater to different services.

It will also bring together skilled, multidisciplinary professionals with state-of-the-art technology and quality infrastructure.

The location in Conder was identified following a 2022 feasibility study.

It provides good connections for the community, being close to arterial roads, having good access to public transport routes and accessible car parking.

It is also close to other existing health facilities and services nearby, such as general practice, pharmacy, imaging, pathology, allied health and dental.

Having access to care closer to home will also reduce the need for South Tuggeranong residents to go to hospital for treatment and appointments.

A tender has recently been released to progress the design of the health centre in South Tuggeranong. The clinical services and design will be finalised in consultation with clinicians, consumers and the local community before the project progresses to the development application stage, which is expected in the first half of 2024.

There will also be upcoming opportunities for local residents to have their say on health centres coming to the Inner South and North Gungahlin.

For more information, visit the Built for CBR website.

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A Canberra-based company is taking their satellites to space and notching up world first achievements in both the space industry and the global air navigation sector.

Skykraft is developing a constellation of more than 200 satellites in low-earth orbit to provide global Air Traffic Management (ATM) services from space.

These services will provide surveillance and communication capabilities for air traffic control, especially over remote or oceanic regions not covered by ground-based infrastructure.

In 2018-19 Skykraft applied for and won $1 million dollars in matched funding from the ACT Government’s Priority Investment Program (PIP). PIP grants foster innovation and collaboration between, industry, research institutions and universities to solve industry needs.

Skykraft was established in 2017 as a spin-off from The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra. Skykraft’s CEO, Dr Michael Frater, said funding early on from the ACT Government was the financial boost they needed to get things off the ground.

“The confidence from receiving the PIP funding, rather than being drip-fed small grants, created a big shift for us. It gave us the ability to build our team and focus on developing our product,” he said.

Skykraft’s recent successful trial of space-based voice communications in the Very High Frequency (VHF) aviation band demonstrated the feasibility of satellite communication directly with aircraft using existing equipment. This use of satellites in place of ground-based radio systems will allow global real-time communications between pilots and air traffic controllers for the first time.

“We are proud to have taken another step to bringing this world-first capability to market,” said Dr Michael Frater, CEO of Skykraft.

“VHF voice and data communication that covers the entire extent of an aircraft’s journey is the missing piece for Air Traffic Management and will unlock efficiency gains globally.”

Skykraft’s satellite manufacturing facility in Canberra is the centre for the design, build and operation of the more than 200 satellites that will make up the constellation providing space-based ATM services, which will commence operations in 2025.

This constellation will be maintained with a regular five-year satellite replenishment cycle. It will support a sustainable space manufacturing capability in the nation’s capital producing 40-50 satellites annually.

“Our manufacturing capability provides long-term employment for Canberrans in the advanced manufacturing sector,” Dr Frater said.  “We’re also creating opportunities for companies from the Canberra region to input to the manufacturing process, with suppliers in Queanbeyan, Wodonga and Newcastle.”

In 2023, Skykraft put 10 satellites into space across two launches, more than tripling the total mass of Australian manufactured space objects ever placed in orbit.

Skykraft will continue this rapid pace as they deploy the full satellite constellation to deliver their ATM service globally.

The ACT Government’s PIP grant is currently open until 31 October 2023.

For more information visit the PIP website: act.gov.au/pip

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ACT Wildlife have launched a new program, supported by the ACT Government, to replace fruit netting with wildlife safe options for free.

An upcoming amendment to the Nature Conservation Act 2014 will ban the use of unsafe netting in the ACT.

This new program is aimed at supporting the ACT’s transition to wildlife-safe netting ahead of the amendment, to protect native wildlife from population decline.

There will be free pop-up events over the coming months where Canberrans can bring their unsafe netting and have it replaced for free.

Netting protects fruit trees from native animals, like birds and bats, that are keen for a snack. However, it can also entangle threatened wildlife if the mesh size is too large or it is not installed correctly.

“Unsafe netting causes death and injury to flying foxes, birds, lizards, snakes and other wildlife. Seeing the harm these nets cause is heartbreaking for wildlife rescue volunteers,” Clare Wynter, Flying Foxes Co-Ordinator at ACT Wildlife, said.

Fruit netting should have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or smaller, with no gaps for wildlife to enter from the ground or sky.

“Backyard fruit trees can be protected with far less chance of harming wildlife simply by using nets with holes smaller than you can put a finger through.  These kinds of nets are better for both fruit trees and wild animals,” Clare said.

This small change will make a big difference to native wildlife in the ACT, which is currently facing an extinction crisis.

Find out more about wildlife-safe fruit-tree netting on the ACT Government Environment website.

If you come across entangled wildlife, please don’t try to release animals yourself. Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to arrange a safe rescue with a qualified wildlife handler.

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The ACT Government is charging up Canberra’s rapid response mowing team who are equipped with new electric ride-on mowers this mowing season.

The ACT’s mowing season generally runs from September until March. This gives the team ample opportunity to monitor the new mowers’ effectiveness.

One electric mower was trialled successfully last mowing season.

This season, the new electric models will replace four diesel-powered mowers, to mow over five thousand hectares of grass each mowing cycle.

The change will support the ACT Government’s commitment to achieve zero net emissions from Government operations by 2040.

The new mowers offer benefits beyond low emissions. They require minimal maintenance with no grease points or belts.

They have tubeless tyres which help achieve excellent cutting results and increase rider comfort.

They are also lighter than other machines in the fleet and so have less chance of becoming bogged.

The mowers take about six hours to charge and provide eight hours of run time.

Last season, the mowing team spent more than 35,000 hours on machines mowing across Canberra.

After a busy couple of seasons with high rainfall, this season is not expected to be as wet. It will still be a busy one, however, as a well-watered landscape will provide plenty of moisture for strong grass growth in the coming months.

The mowing team is well prepared to manage grass growth across Canberra this season.

They will be supported by the rapid response mowing team of 10 extra staff and eight additional mowers to help bolster mowing capacity.

There will be a focus on higher priority areas such as those presenting safety issues.

Canberrans can keep up to date on when their suburb will be mown with the mowing map displayed on the City Services website at cityservices.act.gov.au

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A park in Kingston has been named in commemoration of Gamilaroi and Darug man Mr Alfred George Stafford MBE.

The park, located adjacent to Trevillian Quay at the Kingston Foreshore estate, has been officially named Alf Stafford Park.

This honours Mr Stafford for his significant contributions to Canberra through his public service, sporting achievements and association with early Kingston.

Mr Stafford was an avid sportsman and the official driver of Prime Minster Robert Menzies for many years. An enduring friendship developed between the two men and their families.

He worked as a parliamentary driver and as a Ministerial Attendant at Parliament House, serving numerous Australian prime ministers before retiring in 1972.

Mr Stafford was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his dedicated service to several of Australia’s prime ministers.

Originally from Binnaway, NSW, Mr Stafford moved to Canberra in the 1930s and quickly became a prominent member of the Kingston community as a local business owner and cricketer.

He was captain of the Kingston district cricket club team and captained Federal Capital Territory Cricket Association representative team matches.

Alf Stafford’s family said they are proud of his achievements and are looking forward to his memory living on through the naming of Alf Stafford Park.

“Alf was a much loved and respected father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend,” Mr Stafford’s family said.

“There was a saying around Old Parliament House: ‘Prime Ministers come and go, but Alf Stafford goes on forever’, to which Alf would reply ‘I wish it was true’.

“Today, our family is proud to honour his wish. Through the unveiling of ‘Alf Stafford Park’, we pay respect to a true gentleman (the last of the hat tippers!) providing a legacy, ensuring Alf’s memory lives on,” his family said.

^{A  portrait of Mr Stafford as a young man.}

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Canberrans are invited to give input on a proposed refresh of the ACT’s heritage system.

A comprehensive external review has resulted in a range of recommended reforms, intended to better identify, protect and celebrate places of natural and cultural significance in the territory.

The community is encouraged to share feedback on the review, specifically on issues like transparency in decision-making, access to information and risks or unintended consequences.

The review contains two key themes:

1. establishing ACT Aboriginal People as the decision makers on their cultural heritage
2. the need to strengthen the governance and administration of the ACT’s heritage arrangements.

Ensuring the ACT has well-functioning heritage arrangements that recognise and conserve natural, cultural and First Nations heritage for current and future generations is the priority.

Canberrans can have their say via two online surveys or thought online or in-person consultation sessions to encourage more in-depth discussion.

First Nations Canberrans, general community and industry members are all invited to participate.

The review, announced in December 2022, has involved exploring best practice models for heritage laws, frameworks and arrangements from other jurisdictions and proposing a fit for purpose model for the ACT.

The ACT Government appointed an interim Heritage Council in April to continue to deliver council responsibilities under the Heritage Act 2004 and to support this comprehensive review and reform process.

View the full report and have your say on the ACT heritage system reforms through the YourSay Conversations website.

Find out more about heritage in the ACT on the ACT Environment website.

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The ACT Multicultural Awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations that continue to make Canberra a welcoming and inclusive city.

The 2023 recipients were awarded across five categories for their commitment in working towards a vibrant, diverse community, and to realising the benefits of this diversity in real ways.

• ACT Multicultural Individual Champion: Mijica Rose Lus
  Rose supports multicultural communities in the ACT in a range of ways such as the Aurosokwo project, which included a range of activities from creating care packs, book drives, and medical outreach, to collaborating with local charities and organisations.
• ACT Community Organisation (Multicultural Champion): ALO Enlightened Women Inc
  ALO has made an important impact on the lives of hundreds of multicultural community members, in particular vulnerable migrant and refugee women, through its range of programs and services.
• ACT Multicultural Arts, Media or Culture: Radio Manpasand
  Since its beginning in 2004, Radio Manpasand’s commitment to serving the Indian and subcontinental movement is evident through its long-standing and impactful presence on the airwaves and beyond.
• ACT Outstanding Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion: Dr Lubna Alam
  Dr Alam is a co-founder of ALO Enlightened Women Inc., supporting and empowering vulnerable migrant women through the organisation. She is greatly involved in the wider multicultural community, providing assistance and leadership to support an inclusive society.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Domenic Mico OAM
  For the past 50 years, Mr Mico has and continues to be deeply connected with the multicultural and arts communities in the ACT. As the former Artistic Director of the National Multicultural Festival, he was instrumental in the event’s development. He is also the former Director of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre and was involved in many other cultural and artistic events and programs in the community.

In addition to the winners listed above, six Highly Commended award recipients were recognised.

A complete list of the winners and highly commended recipients can be found on the Community Services Directorate website: act.gov.au/open/multicultural-awards-winners

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The ACT Government has introduced new reforms to help to keep people safe around home pools.

The regulatory reforms make it mandatory for all home swimming pools to comply with modern safety standards.

The most common location in the ACT for drowning death and injury for children under the age of five is in home swimming pools.

Pool designs and safety standards have changed, and pools that were installed many years ago may not comply with these important modern standards. Requiring pools and spas to be up to modern safety standards rather than when the pool was constructed will reduce the risk of people drowning or suffering serious injury.

To ease the pressure on property owners to comply with the modern safety standard the reforms are proposed to start from 1 May 2024 with a four-year transition period.

Under the reforms:

• all pool owners will be required to maintain their pool barriers
• residents who have a swimming pool on their property will be required to make sure that all doors and gates providing access to the swimming pool are kept securely closed at all times when they are not in use
• homeowners with a pool that applies to the reforms will have to bring swimming pool barriers up to compliance with the prescribed safety standards or seek an exemption, which can be considered in limited circumstances
• homeowners will also be required to inform prospective tenants and purchasers of the new requirements and the compliance status of their pool.

The reforms will apply to all home swimming pools and spa pools that can contain water to a depth greater than 300mm.

These reforms bring the ACT in line with other jurisdictions that have already introduced swimming pool barrier reforms in recent years.

For more information on the reforms visit the ACT Government’s Planning website.

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Final designs have been released for the new fenced dog park in Franklin.

The new park provides another option for Gungahlin residents to exercise and socialise their dogs off-leash.

Located in the open area on the corner of Nullarbor Avenue and Oodgeroo Avenue, dogs will enjoy an agility area and an irrigated grass area perfect for playing fetch.

The design also includes a picnic shelter, drinking fountain, seating, an accessible loop park, bike rails and a gravel carpark.

Work is now underway to find a construction contractor for the new park. Once selected, construction will begin.

^{Franklin Dog Park final design.}

^{Franklin dog park location map.}

More information on the project can be found on the City Services website: cityservices.act.gov.au

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