Month: March 2025

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Pursuit ends in arrest

Source: New South Wales – News

A pair have been arrested after a pursuit through the western suburbs yesterday evening.

​Just before 6.30pm on Sunday 30 March, patrols spotted a white Holden sedan stationary in Edward’s Park, Adelaide. The vehicle was stationary within an area only permitted for authorised vehicles to access. Police indicated for the driver to speak to police before he drove away from police. Police activated emergency lights, indicating for the driver to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued to drive from police.

The car stopped for a short time and then took off again. Police followed the car as it headed west on Port Road.  PolAir were quickly in the air and tracked the car as it travelled south on Tapley Hills Road and onto West Lake Boulevard.  The driver drove through two red lights on Cheltenham Parade and Addison Road.

The car was tracked through the back streets of Pennington and then west onto Grand Junction Road.   The car was successfully spiked as it approached Addison Road and the vehicle came to a stop on Grand Junction Road.

The driver and the passenger refused to exit the car and officers had to break the car window to arrest the occupants.

The driver, a 27-year-old man from Ingle Farm, was breath tested and he provided a positive result of 0.107 – more than double the legal limit.  He was charged with dangerous driving to escape a police pursuit, failing to stop, driving whilst unlicenced and a raft of other traffic offences.

The passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Queensland, was charged with resisting arrest.  They have both been refused police bail and will appear in Port Adeliade Magistrates Court on Monday 31 March.

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More affordable rental homes for Canberrans

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Construction of the new homes will commence later this year and is expected to be completed in 2026, ready for families to move in.

The ACT Government has announced the construction of 70 new affordable rental homes in Phillip.

Supported by the ACT Government’s $60 million Affordable Housing Project Fund, CHC Australia and the Canberra Southern Cross Club, the new homes will be part of a new 140-unit Build-to-Rent development in Phillip.

The homes will be located adjacent to the Stellar Canberra health and wellness centre.

Construction will commence this year and is expected to be completed in 2026, ready for families to move in.

The Government established the Affordable Housing Project Fund last year to grow the supply of affordable rental properties in Canberra and strengthen the community housing sector.

Since it was launched, the Fund has offered financial support for six projects (subject to finalising funding agreements) with the potential to deliver about 280 new affordable rentals for Canberrans.

Community housing providers and developers are encouraged to submit proposals to access the fund at any time. More information can be found in the government’s Affordable Rental Prospectus.

Build-to-Rent, which is aimed at providing affordable housing to long-term renters, is an important part of the Government’s ACT Housing Strategy to improve rental supply and affordability.

The Government will announce further community housing partnerships soon for Build-to-Rent projects.

“With a dire shortage of rental accommodation that is affordable for lower income earners such as essential workers, CHC is delighted that the ACT Government is supporting community housing providers to grow affordable rental supply,” CHC Australia CEO Andrew Hannan said.

“Together with our valued partner, the Canberra Southern Cross Club, we cannot wait to turn soil on our new mixed-tenure market and affordable Build-to-Rent development in Phillip that will deliver 70 affordable rental units for the community.”

This year’s Budget Review will also progress the proposed MyHome project in Curtin, with $500,000 committed for planning and design work.

MyHome is designed to provide long-term supported residential accommodation and care for 15 people with an enduring mental illness.

The project will be built on Uniting Church land and led by Wesley Mission working with MyHome in Canberra, a local community organisation, and Woden Valley Uniting Church.

Canberra is on track to reach 500,000 people by 2027. These initiatives will help ensure the right mix of housing options to meet the growing city’s needs.

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Moving ahead on essential city infrastructure

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Design work for Stage 1 of EPIC’s redevelopment will include a new large multipurpose exhibition hall to accommodate larger exhibitions, galas and large-scale events.

Funding will be provided through the ACT Government Budget Review to progress planning on three of Canberra’s major precincts – Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), a new Convention Centre Precinct and the Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct.

This investment will support further investigation of a new rectangular stadium in Bruce.

The stadium will form part of an expanded sports, health and education precinct.

It will link investments in the AIS precinct, CIT Bruce, University of Canberra and the Northside Hospital.

Design work will also begin for a new Convention Centre Precinct in Canberra’s city centre.

This will include new convention facilities and an indoor Entertainment Pavilion suitable for live music and major indoor sporting events.

Design work for Stage 1 of EPIC’s redevelopment will include a new large multipurpose exhibition hall to accommodate larger exhibitions and gala sit-down dinners for thousands.

It will also cater for multiple large-scale community-based events. The first stage will also include new intersections and a new public entrance.

The redevelopment will allow existing events to grow and for multiple events to be held concurrently.

The Budget Review will also support the refurbishment of Fitzroy Pavilion at EPIC, with $4.6 million to be invested this year to refurbish the pavilion and turn it into a versatile event space.

This will meet the immediate demand for large-scale community and multicultural events in Canberra.

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Raymond celebrates 50 years with City Services

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

What started as a love of gardening turned into a 50-year career for Raymond.

The ACT public service offers a wide range of career opportunities, but it’s not often you celebrate someone who has contributed 50 years of service.

Fifty years ago, Olivia Newton John dominated the music charts and Burger Rings hit the supermarket shelves.

Also at this time, a young man named Raymond Russell began working with what is now the ACT Government’s Transport Canberra and City Services directorate.

While he’s worn a variety of hats during his half-century, Raymond has been a mower operator for the past two decades.

He loves his job mowing across Canberra – even with the city’s often-changeable weather that can cause rapid grass growth or ground that can’t be mown after heavy rain.

“I love when we go out and people like to talk to you,” he said.

“I love talking to the public. I get a lot of compliments from them which is great. If they’ve got a dog, I talk about their dogs. And what’s going to go on in the future in their area. And they get quite excited sometimes. Some people, they just like to talk.”

A keen gardener, Raymond’s early years were grounded in horticulture.

“I loved gardening and I used to go out with my mother – she used to enter flower shows – and I used to go and help her a lot, so I decided to do gardening myself,” Raymond said.

Working in City Services turned out to be something of a family affair.

Raymond’s father used to work at the old Dickson depot and his eldest brother worked with the directorate too.

The mowing veteran has certainly seen some change over 50 years.

“When I first started off at one of the depots I was given a very small sit-on mower. It’s a lot better nowadays obviously.”

Raymond says he loves living and working in Canberra. And he takes great pride in his 50 years of service.

“I just absolutely love that I got this far. I never expected that when I started. Not many people can do it. I just want to stay here while I can. I’ll probably retire … soon!” he said.

Find out more about the mowing program and what Raymond and the rest of the crews work on at https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/public-land/maintenance/grass-mowing.

Find out more about employment opportunities in the ACT public service at https://www.jobs.act.gov.au/home

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What’s in store for Tuggeranong foreshore

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Upgrades will make the area safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

If you’ve recently visited the Tuggeranong foreshore, you will have seen closures and temporary fencing. There is construction happening to improve the Lake Tuggeranong foreshore area.

These upgrades will create a more liveable, people-focussed and active space for the Tuggeranong community to enjoy.

The ACT Government expects the upgrades to finish by mid-2024.

Here’s what Tuggeranong residents will see over the coming months:

Tuggeranong Town Park Playground

The existing playground has been demolished to create the new playground. The new space will create more opportunity for accessible play. The equipment that is planned to be installed includes:

  • an accessible carousel
  • a climbing tower
  • a swing
  • a double flying fox
  • a climber rope
  • a balance challenge
  • a sand digger
  • a sand digger with equal access
  • sandstone logs
  • boulders
  • a bike repair station
  • bike racks.

The area will also feature rubber softfall on the ground. There will be furniture for people to sit and picnic around the playground. Landscaping and grass will make a better green space surrounding the play space.

Boardwalk, walkways, paths and crossings

The area is being changed to make it easier to navigate and more enjoyable for the community to use.

Reclaimed timber decking is being installed along the boardwalk. A new pergola structure will be constructed, providing shade and shelter.

Paths will be widened and repaved. New line markings will help separate pedestrian and cyclists travelling in opposite directions. New signage will make it easier to know where you’re going.

New trees are being planted, and new furniture, including more seating, will be installed. This will allow people to sit and enjoy the green space and lake at a safe distance from the paths.

The crossing at Bartlett Place will be upgraded to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. This will include a new asphalt speedbump, new streetlights and updated line marking.

The existing pedestrian connections on Reed Street will be improved through concreting and asphalt paving.

Toilet blocks

Over the coming months, the toilets will close while upgrades are completed. The dilapidated public toilet will be removed and replaced with two new accessible facilities.

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Canberrans invited to shape future of City Hill park

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The community is invited to have their say on historic City Hill park by drawing or describing their ideas.

The ACT Government is seeking to gather community ideas on how to make City Hill park a more welcoming, comfortable and engaging public space.

The community is invited to have their say on the historic site by drawing or describing their ideas.

The six-week consultation is open until 25 March.

Community members, schools and other groups are encouraged to share their ideas.

Canberrans can help shape the future of this green space as the City Centre expands over the coming decade to serve thousands more residents, workers and visitors.

The initiative will culminate in a physical City Hill ideas exhibition, an opportunity to discover what has been submitted and add more ideas and visions to the exhibition.

A ‘Discover City Hill Day’ will also take place on 11 March. This will include a First Nations Walk on Country alongside tours with experts in landscape architecture, active travel and local heritage.

The physical exhibition showcasing the ideas from the community will be open at Civic Library from 9 to 25 March.

It is envisaged the park will act as a centrepiece between the evolving Acton Waterfront, the Canberra Theatre Centre redevelopment and connecting light rail.

To share your drawing or ideas on the future of City Hill park or to have your say on the Canberra Civic and Cultural District concept, go to: yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/cityhill

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New Active Travel Plan to get more Canberrans outdoors

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The new plan outlines Canberra’s future cycling network.

Encouraging more Canberrans to walk and ride across Canberra’s extensive path network will be aided by further ACT Government investment in active travel initiatives.

The government’s Active Travel Plan 2024–2030 aims to drive a connected, safe and convenient active travel network in the ACT.

The new plan outlines ways to help Canberrans choose active travel options over other modes of travel.

Active travel options include:

  • walking
  • cycling
  • micromobility vehicles – such as e-scooters.

The aim is to make these options safer, more accessible, convenient and enjoyable – whether for transport, recreation or social activities.

Community feedback gathered over the past two years helped shape both the Plan and Design Guide. These documents support the design and prioritisation of the ACT’s walking and riding infrastructure and programs.

The Plan’s priority is safe infrastructure for walking and riding. It highlights key walking areas and outlines Canberra’s future cycling network.

Other actions include providing more secure bike parking and targeted programs to remove barriers and encourage people to use active travel and public transport.

New funding for active travel infrastructure

The ACT Government will provide a further $4 million in funding to support active travel improvements.

This is part of a 50:50 funding agreement with the Australian Government under the Commonwealth’s Road Safety Program.

The additional funding comes in addition to the $29.5 million in funding provided in the 2023–24 ACT Budget to support active travel, and brings total spending across the budget and forward estimates on active travel to over $94 million.

The Kingston Cycleway: a key active travel project

The Kingston Cycleway is a key active travel project proposed to receive funding under the Road Safety Program. The new high-quality cycleway connecting Kingston and the Inner South through to the City on the C2 cycle route will be delivered in two stages.

Construction of the first stage – a pop-up bi-directional protected cycle lane on Bowen Drive between the Kings Avenue underpass and Bowen Park – will begin in the coming weeks.

The government is trialling this infrastructure in Canberra, with funding also committed to investigate other corridors suited to pop-up cycle lanes.

Detailed design of the second stage, connecting Bowen Park with Cunningham Street via Eastlake Parade, will start in the coming months.

Additional projects proposed include:

  • a new pedestrian crossing on New South Wales Crescent, improving safe access to Telopea Park
  • improvements to the City to Woden C4 cycle route via the Lake Burley Griffin cycling circuit on Alexandrina Drive in Yarralumla, including raised crossings, lighting and signage
  • improvements to the City to Belconnen C3 cycle route through a new raised crossing on Bauhinia Street, O’Connor
  • upgrades to the cycling crossing point on the Adelaide Avenue on-ramp at the Hopetoun Circuit intersection, including a pedestrian crossing and cycle lane improvements
  • a new raised pedestrian crossing on Bowman Street in Jamison
  • pedestrian safety improvements on Beasley Street at the bus stops in front of the Torrens shops, including two new kerb ramps to facilitate crossing.

These investments build on the significant pipeline of active travel projects already underway.

Existing projects include the Garden City Cycle Route, new shared paths along Sulwood Drive and William Hovell Drive, and improvements to paths around Lake Ginninderra and the Tuggeranong foreshore.

With Canberra consistently ranking as one of Australia’s best cities for walking and cycling, it’s hoped the new plan will help even more Canberrans embrace active travel options.

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Expanded health care services and support

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The ACT Government is also investing in bolstering the health workforce.

The ACT Government is continuing to invest in the health infrastructure, services and workforce needed to meet the growing needs of the Canberra community.

The Critical Services Building at Canberra Hospital will open later this year. It will deliver a bigger emergency department, more operating theatres and more treatment spaces.

The ACT Government has announced an additional $17 million to expand emergency services in the Critical Services Building and critical care across the campus.

The additional investment includes:

  • two dedicated triage points within the new Emergency Department with more triage nurses and administrative staff that will reduce waiting times to triage, leading to better outcomes for patients and staff
  • a dedicated Behavioural Assessment Unit within the new Emergency Department. This six-bed unit will be staffed by a dedicated team of doctors and nurses who will provide specialist assessment and care for patients with complex needs
  • an expanded Medical Emergency Team to deliver vital services across the larger acute care footprint on the Canberra Hospital campus that will grow the service with more Advanced Practice Nurses and a new Nurse Practitioner position to support critically unwell patients.

Medical imaging services will continue to grow across the Canberra Hospital campus with a new MRI machine in the Critical Services Building. The new MRI machine will enable more scans per week, helping to manage demand and reduce wait times.

This funding builds on the government’s significant investment of more than $122 million to operationalise the Critical Services Building in the 2023–24 ACT Budget.

The ACT Government is also investing in bolstering the health workforce.

An additional $27 million in funding will improve benefits for nursing, midwifery, and allied health professionals to aid in the retention and attraction of these vital health workforces.

This investment will fund initiatives currently under negotiation with industrial partners including professional development opportunities and recognition of advanced skills and specialist expertise.

There will also be a team dedicated to hiring specialist doctors and other health professionals.

The ACT Government’s investments in the well-being, development and remuneration of the health workforce aim to ensure Canberra health workers remain among the best paid in the country.

Construction on the Critical Services Building is progressing well with the new hospital building on track to open in the third quarter of this year.

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Progress continues on Gungahlin Tennis Facility

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The new facility will seek to include 10 full-sized courts, among other features.

Canberrans can now give their feedback on the proposed Gungahlin Tennis Facility, to be located in Amaroo.

A Development Application (DA) has been submitted as the project nears the construction phase.

The new facility will seek to include 10 full-sized courts, two hot shots courts, a hitting wall, LED lighting, female friendly changerooms, parking and a pavilion.

Design development and construction is being undertaken in consultation with Tennis Australia and Tennis ACT, as well as the ACT community.

The DA process will provide a further opportunity for community feedback during the public notification period.

Pending approval of the DA, the ACT Government will release a tender to engage a construction contractor to deliver the works.

Canberrans love their tennis – there are currently 6400 members and many more Canberrans actively engaged in tennis programs and participation opportunities.

As well as providing more options for tennis-lovers, the project will support jobs during its construction phase.

The community can provide feedback through the DA process until 14 March.

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Refreshed Florey Oval officially open

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The refresh was officially opened during an event at Florey Primary School, with Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan in attendance.

The Florey Oval Refresh project at Florey Primary School has opened, with a portion of the Florey dry land oval transformed into a natural play space for students and wider community use.

The oval was officially opened during an event held at the school, with Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan in attendance.

The project’s final design was shaped by feedback from Florey Primary School students and the local community during the public consultation process in 2023.

It was further developed with the school and representatives of the Ngunnawal community. The yarning circle – named after Aunty Violet – offers students a calm space to gather and chat with a focus on strengthening connection to community and country.

The result is a natural open space that promotes outdoor activity. It will be an engaging space for Florey Primary students to enjoy as part of their learning.

Outside of school hours, the public space offers great facilities for the wider community to relax, exercise and connect.

The new-look oval now boasts an all-abilities bike pump track and a small, irrigated lawn oval with goal posts. There is also a new outdoor activity and play space within the school boundary.

With plenty of seating, areas for inquisitive play, garden beds, fruit trees and open space there is something for everyone to enjoy.

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