Source: South Australia County Fire Service
Issued on
03 May 2025 12:26
Issued for
SLATERS LANE & TOD HIGHWAY IN THE LOWER EYRE PENINSULA OF SA near 10KM NORTH OF CUMMINS.
Warning level
Advice – Monitor Conditions
Action
Monitor local conditions and stay informed if you are in this area. Decide what you will do if the situation changes.
At this time there is no threat to life or property and firefighters are attending this fire.
More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Head to Queen Elizabeth II Island for an iconically Canberran picnic. Image: Tourism Australia
Canberra does not disappoint when it comes to picnic spots.
Picture yourself sitting on a picnic blanket under the shade of the impressive trees at Lennox Gardens with a view of Lake Burley Griffin unfolding before you.
Or you could escape the city and venture out to Weston Park with the family to make use of the barbecue facilities. Soak up the views while the kids enjoy the water playground.
Here are some of our picks for your next picnic destination:
In spring, these gardens are bursting with colourful roses. At Old Parliament House Gardens, wisteria drip from the pergolas.
Each of the gardens has plenty of soft grass where you can spread out. Choose a shady spot by the trees or soak up the sun.
Low on caffeine or food? Rosa’s at the Lawns is nearby and offers coffee, pastries and pizza.
This picturesque island is the home of the iconic National Carillon. It was formerly known as Aspen Island.
With lush grass and shady trees, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy views of Lake Burley Griffin. Time your visit to hear the hourly chime of the Carillon’s 57 bronze bells.
Telopea Park’s lush green grass and towering trees are the ideal spot for a picnic.
There are also:
With Manuka and Kingston shops nearby, there are plenty of choices for coffee or food to take along with you.
There are many idyllic picnic spots at the Arboretum. Head to Dairy Farmers Hill to enjoy 360-degree views across Canberra. You can also check out the iconic eagle sculpture, Nest III, up close.
Another favourite spot is the Himalayan cedar forest barbeque and picnic area. The picnic and barbeque desk has tables and free electric barbeques.
Weston Park spreads across 40 hectares, with plenty of picnic spots to choose from.
The area around Pescott Lane is a popular area for families. Here, you’ll find:
The Yarralumla Play Station is across the road from the picnic. It has a café and miniature railway.
Fadden Pines is loved by families in the Tuggeranong region. With three playgrounds and multiple picnic areas, there are plenty of spots to choose from.
It also has:
Virtually any spot around the edge of Lake Ginninderra is a beautiful setting for a picnic.
John Knight Memorial Park is particularly suitable. It has beautiful views of the lake and plenty of shady trees. You’ll also find:
You can choose to hike or drive to the top of Mount Ainslie. Either way, the view across Canberra is bound to get your heart racing.
There are picnic tables so you can take a seat and soak up the views.
On a sunny afternoon, it’s a common sight to see locals enjoying a picnic on the grassy hill overlooking the lake.
There are public toilets nearby, as well as picnic shelters.
Need food and coffee? Pop into The Walter Café for some takeaway.
The stunning park is home to Canberra Beijing Garden and Canberra Nara Peace Park. It’s right on the waterfront and has beautiful views and shady trees.
You’ll also find:
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Dogs are wonderful companions that bring joy to their families.
Owning a dog can help people to:
Before you bring a dog into your family, there are a few things to consider. Here are a few points that people don’t often talk about:
You may have expected that your new pup will love fetch and swimming. But then find they prefer tug and digging instead.
Spend some time getting to know your dog. Discovering their personality and temperament can be rewarding. Their genetics and history can inform how they react to different people, toys and other animals. Breed can also play a part in their temperament.
Moving into a new home can be stressful for a dog. This is common for dogs who have come from a noisy shelter environment.
In the first three days, your dog will be decompressing. They may seem scared or unsure. During this time, you might not see their ‘true’ personality.
After three weeks, your pup will start settling in. Their personality will start to show as they get more comfortable. After three months it’s likely that your dog will be comfortable and trust you. It’s important to take this time with them and not try to rush them
Taking your dog on a walk on a beautiful Sunday is wonderful, but not every day will be easy.
Remember that dogs still need to go for a walk even when you don’t feel like it. Your dog will still need to be looked after when you’re feeling sick, sad or stressed. Consider if you need a support system to help you look after your pet on difficult days.
When you have a dog, your floor may always have a few toys strewn about. There may also be stray pieces of dog food and dog hair on it.
You may also need to change the way you decorate your home. This is to keep fragile items out of your dog’s reach. You should also consider if you are ready to clean up after your dog potentially having toileting accidents inside.
Most dogs can be left alone for hours at a time. There are also pet-friendly venues around Canberra.
Even so, you should prepare for times where you need to leave an event early to be with your dog.
There may also be times where your pet is unwell. You may need to miss social occasions to care for them. Consider if these are sacrifices you are willing to make for your pet.
Looking for dog-friendly accommodation while traveling can be difficult and expensive. It can also be hard to find someone to look after your pet if you plan on leaving them at home.
Before getting a dog, ask friends or family if they would be willing to look after your pet while you travel. You can also check out the costs of pet-boarding or pet-sitters. It’s important to be aware of these potential costs before getting a dog.
In addition to buying dog food, toys, and other treats, in the ACT, owners must register, microchip, de-sex their dog which costs money. There are also licences and permits you may need to obtain if you wish to breed your dog or if there are 4 or more dogs living at your residence.
Dogs also need regular check-ups and vaccinations to keep them happy and healthy. Dogs can also have accidents from time-to-time which need to be seen to by a veterinarian, often at short notice. Consider whether you can financially look after a dog to give it the best life possible.
Most Australian airlines will not allow pets in the cabin. You might want to consider if you’re comfortable with your pet in the cargo hold, or if you’re comfortable driving interstate with your pet.
If an international move is on the cards during your pets’ lifespan, you need to factor in the extra cost of bringing them. Moving your pet internationally can be costly.
Having realistic expectations of what having a dog looks like is important for making informed decisions. A common reason for dogs being surrendered is because owners weren’t aware of the challenges of pet ownership.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new school’s logo and uniform design derive from an artwork created by Aunty Agnes Shea’s granddaughter.
The brand-new Aunty Agnes Shea High School in Taylor welcomes its first students this week.
The ACT’s 92nd public school, it will cater to up to 800 years 7–10 students in the growing suburbs of north Gungahlin.
The new school’s students are among over 50,000 returning to public schools across Canberra.
The new school’s name honours late senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea.
The school’s logo and uniform design derive from the artwork ‘Journeys’ about Aunty Agnes Shea.
Artist Selina Walker is Aunty Agnes Shea’s granddaughter. She gifted ‘Journeys’ to the school.
The logo was co-designed with Aunty Agnes Shea’s family. The school’s first cohort of students and their families also contributed to how ‘Journeys’ is shown on the school uniform.
The school features state-of-the-art learning spaces. It is also fully electric in its operations. The buildings use sustainable materials and a large solar panel array.
Students can also enjoy:
Spaces in the school are available for community use.
Aunty Agnes Josephine Shea OAM dedicated most of her life to bettering the world for future generations of Aboriginal Australians.
She worked tirelessly in many different roles for the varying range of communities that call Ngunnawal Country home.
Aunty Agnes Shea’s achievements and dedication have been recognised over the years.
In 2001 she was awarded the Centenary Medal. In 2004, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia.
In 2010 she was awarded an ACT Senior Citizen of the Year award. She also gained a place on the ACT Honour Walk that same year.
Find more on the Aunty Agnes Shea High School website.
The brand-new school offers state-of-the-art facilities.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
All ACT primary school students will be able to attend a free camp at Birrigai during their primary school years.
The ACT Government will provide one free school camp at Birrigai for every primary school student, with free camps starting in term 1 this year.
Camps will be held at Birrigai Outdoor School, near Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
It’s expected that one year group from each ACT public primary school will attend a free camp each year.
This will allow all ACT primary school students to attend a free camp during their primary school years.
This new program means families won’t have to miss out due to cost.
School camps are an important part of the educational experience. The program ensures all students can attend.
It’s anticipated that more than 1000 students will benefit from the program in the first half of the year.
Additional school bookings will open in the coming weeks.
Work is underway to support the roll out of the program’s first phase in the first half of 2025.
Schools will communicate to their school communities as plans are finalised.
Semester 1 2025 bookings are subject to availability.
Equity is one of the four principles of the ACT Government’s Future of Education Strategy.
The program comes in addition to other initiatives aimed at helping Canberra families with school costs. These include:
Find out more at education.act.gov.au
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Source: New South Wales – News
A man has been arrested after trying to evade police at Parafield Gardens last night.
At 8.30pm on Friday 2 May police spotted a red Holden sedan on Martins Road, Parafield Gardens and directed the driver to stop.
The driver refused and took off at speed. The vehicle wasn’t pursued by police as fortunately PolAir was in the area and tracked the vehicle from above. The vehicle was tracked onto John Rice Avenue and the Grove Way where it will be alleged it reached speeds of 120 km/h.
Patrols successfully spiked the vehicle on two occasions on the Grove Way.
The vehicle continued into Fairview Park before stopping on Hamilton Road and the driver attempted to run from the car.
He was swiftly arrested after a short foot chase.
Checks revealed the 32-year-old driver from Banksia Park was currently disqualified from driving.
He was arrested and charged with fail to stop, drive dangerously to escape police, speed dangerous, drive disqualified and resist police.
His vehicle was impounded, and he was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on 18 June.
Source: New South Wales – News
A man was arrested after trying to flee police on the North-South Motorway last night.
Police spotted the man’s vehicle on Bower Road, Semaphore just before 11pm on Friday 2 May but it took off and they called in the police helicopter to follow the black Holden sedan as it turned onto Causeway to head to the Port River Expressway.
The vehicle travelled at high speeds, taking the Northern Connector onto the North-South Motorway, before crashing into a roundabout near the Waterloo Corner Road exit.
The driver abandoned his vehicle and was walking east towards Port Wakefield Road but was easily spotted by police and arrested without further incident.
The 41-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
He was charged with excessive speed, speed dangerous and drive unlicensed and unregistered. He did not apply for bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday 5 May.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
An artist’s impression of the new materials recovery facility to be built in Hume.
A new recycling facility for Canberra is on the way.
Veolia will partner with the ACT Government to design, build and operate the new facility.
This will be built within the current bounds of the Hume Resource Recovery Estate on Recycling Road in Hume.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
The Government selected Veolia as its industry partner after a competitive procurement process last year.
Veolia is a leader in water, energy, and waste management. It will bring world-leading technology to Canberra to build one of the country’s most advanced materials recovery facilities.
Veolia will run the facility under a long-term contract for 20 years, once it is operational.
The new facility will be able to sort paper and cardboard, glass, plastic, steel and aluminium.
Its sophisticated technology will increase recovery rates, producing high purity in materials for recycling and resource recovery.
Technology includes:
The new, larger facility will be able to process up to 115,000 tonnes of mixed recyclables per year.
This supports a growing Canberra and changing consumer behaviour that is contributing to increases in recoverable material over time.
The project will create more than 130 new jobs.
Removing the need to transport the ACT’s recyclable materials interstate will have a further environmental impact.
A new education space will also be built. This will allow the community and school groups to visit and learn about how recyclable products are processed, to be transformed into renewed items.
Improved recycling facilities
Improved environmental aspects
Advanced management systems
State-of-the-art fire detection, mitigation and control systems will safeguard the site from fires. These can be caused by items such as lithium batteries or gas bottles finding their way into the recycling stream.
Non-recyclable or flammable items should not be put in recycling bins. This does happen from time to time, though, warranting the need for these extra safety measures.
Canberrans can rest assured that the items they put in their yellow household bins are still being recycled.
Until the new facility is complete, recycling services will continue to be delivered by the current contractor, Re.Group.
The new recycling facility is funded via a joint investment of $26 million from the ACT and Australian governments.
The construction program includes the demolition of the previous material recovery facility, which is expected to commence around mid-2025.
The facility is expected to be operational in 2028.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.
You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Plants and natural materials help cool urban areas.
Grants are now open for the ‘Nature in the City: Cooling Your Suburb’ program.
The grants support innovative projects to make the hottest areas in Canberra cooler.
A total of $150,000 in grant funding is now available for local projects that:
As the heat continues to rise, Canberrans are more likely to suffer from ‘urban heat island effect’. This is when surfaces and infrastructure like pavement, roads and buildings soak up the heat from the sun. It then radiates back into suburbs.
Up to $50,000 per project is available for projects that will benefit the community through:
These projects may include:
Up to $10,000 is also available for eligible organisations to conduct feasibility studies that explore new ways to make an area cooler with nature-based solutions.
Three Mills Bakery is a local business that received funding in the last round of the program. They are working to transform an urban concrete hotspot in Woden into a publicly accessible oasis.
They are installing canopy trees and other plants in planter boxes. The vegetation and planters will reduce urban heat and retain water.
“The external environment plays a huge role in creating remarkable hospitality experiences”, Jarrod Deaton, founder of Three Mills Bakery said.
“The Nature in the City: Cooling Your Suburb grant will help us to transform a harsh concrete environment into a softer, greener space that people can enjoy.”
An online information session will be held on 12 December 2024 for those who are interested in applying for a grant and wish to find out more about the program and application process.
Applications for the 2024-25 ‘Nature in the City: Cooling Your Suburb’ grants program are now open until midnight 9 February 2025.
For more information on the grant program and how to apply, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.
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