Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

In brief:

• The ACT Government has added 10 more electric vehicles to its fleet.
• Electric vehicles are better for the environment and cheaper to run.
• Making your next car electric could save you money.

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Canberra continues to lead the nation in supporting the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).

About 10 new electric vehicles are coming onto ACT roads every day. In fact, you might spot a few new ACT Government EVs out and about this spring, including:

• a ute
• two tipper trucks
• a litter picking truck
• a delivery van.

These vehicles will join the City Services fleet as a trial to see how the ACT Government can continue to provide essential services in a more environmentally friendly way. An additional four electric passenger vehicles have also joined the fleet in the past month. These vehicles join more than 400 electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles already in the ACT Government fleet.

The trial will showcase the variety and availability of EVs for commercial use and promote their benefits to local industry and community. The new vehicles have been funded through the ACT Government’s Social Cost of Carbon Fund and Zero Emission Government Fund. These funds aim to reduce emissions produced by government activity.

Making the switch

Zero emission vehicles, like EVs, are better for the environment and quieter than petrol and diesel vehicles. They’re also much more affordable to run.

Making your next car electric could save you around $18,000 in running costs over 10 years. It could also reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by around 3 tonnes per year.

The ACT Government offers multiple incentives for people and businesses when they purchase an EV. And with new public chargers being installed all over the city, charging your EV is quick and easy.

Canberran’s are embracing EVs at a rapid pace, with over 9,100 EVs currently registered. If you’re thinking about making your next car electric, but not sure where to start, check out this handy guide on EVs for beginners.

Transport contributes over 60 per cent of the ACT’s emissions. This means electric vehicles have the potential to make a big difference as the ACT continues towards our goals of net zero emissions by 2045.

For more information about zero emissions vehicles in the ACT, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.

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In brief:

• A local social enterprise has turned a gift-giving experiment into a flourishing business.
• The owners received support from the Mill House Ventures.
• A new program is now open to help social enterprise businesses scale up.

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Many of us may have tried some DIY soap-making in the past. But chances are, few of us are like Mick Cronin and Lianne Brink. These two founded Base Soaps from their home just outside of Canberra.

Base Soaps started as a gift-giving experiment in 2017. With a little help along the way, it is now a fully-fledged business. It sells tens of thousands of bars and liquid soaps across the country.

Co-founder Mick has a PhD in Chemistry. He wanted Base Soaps to have a social purpose – to help to address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.

He wants people to know that their for-profit, for-purpose business is a social enterprise. This means giving back is embedded into the company’s constitution.

“You can, simultaneously, have environmentally thoughtful, high-quality hygiene products, and contribute positive impact to rural and remote Australian communities,” he said.

“Some Australian communities suffer incredibly high rates of preventable diseases.

“We assist by contributing to existing programs that address preventable diseases in Australia’s rural and remote communities.”

One is Otitis Media – better known as middle ear infection. Both co-founders were concerned with the high rates of this in children in Indigenous communities.

They set up the constitution of Base Soaps to require them to donate at least 50 per cent of profits to causes that address these kinds of issues.

Asking for support along the way

A number of mentors have helped Mick and Lianne along the way. Many of these were found via Base Soaps’ connection to Canberra’s social enterprise intermediary, The Mill House Ventures.

The Mill House Ventures provides a comprehensive suite of through-life support for local social enterprises and their founders. These range from short workshops to mentoring programs.

Their latest program, Scale for Impact, is now open for applications. It aims to help established social enterprises, like Base Soaps, to identify future growth opportunities.

Scale for Impact is an initiative developed by The Mill House Ventures through funding from the ACT Government.

“The Scale for Impact program offers established social enterprises in Canberra tailored business support to help identify potential growth opportunities and pathways to philanthropic, sponsorship and/or investment funding,” CEO of The Mill House Ventures, Craig Fairweather, said.

Mick from Base Soaps encourages other entrepreneurs keen to make a difference to connect with The Mill House Ventures.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re already established, or simply have an idea. Go in with an open mind and you’ll quickly find out if this is the best way to make change, and enjoy yourself in the process,” said Mick.

To find out more about the Scale for Impact program go to: millhouseventures.com.au/scale

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In brief:

• The Adopt-A-Park community grants program supports registered community groups who volunteer to improve Canberra’s local parks and spaces.
• The program is now open to applications for grants of up to $40,000.
• This story describes the Adopt-A-Park program and the work of one of the community groups that it supports.

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Caring for Canberra’s green spaces is a joint effort between the ACT Government and community members.

One of the ways this happens is through the Adopt-A-Park community grants program. Adopt-A-Park supports more than 95 registered volunteer community groups who give their time to improving Canberra’s local parks and spaces.

Under the program, the ACT Government provides grants of up to $40,000 to improve neighbourhood spaces.

This year’s focus is on controlling or removing declared pest plants.

Friends of Light Street Park

Friends of Light Street Park is a registered community group in Griffith. It was set up one year ago by local residents with an interest in preserving their local park. They used their grant to remove harmful cotoneaster plants. This invasive species threatens local wildlife due its dense thickets.

“The cotoneasters have been removed and we have also completed a website and asked residents to become members and volunteers to support our efforts to revitalise our park as an important community green space,” a member of Friends of Light Street said.

“When the community takes a real interest in our green spaces, we gain pride in our shared spaces.

“Community-led ideas creates shared ownership, and in our experience, more heads are better than one.”

How to apply for a grant

The Adopt-A-Park community grants program is now open for applications and will close on Monday 23 September 2024.

Anyone wanting to volunteer can join a registered group and those that are already a registered volunteer group are encouraged to apply.

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In brief:

• The 2024 ACT Heritage Grants program is funding 13 local projects.
• These grants help individuals and groups with projects that celebrate the region’s history.
• The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust is one of the recipients.

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The recipients of the 2024 ACT Heritage Grants program have been announced.

This year’s program will fund 13 individual or community group projects to the value of $206,500.

Funding was prioritised for projects that:

• aim to conserve and promote the region’s diverse heritage
• enhance local and visitor experiences.

ACT Heritage Grants program aims to help Canberrans honour many years of culture, stories and history.

Previous recipients have showcased the region’s rich history and First Nations heritage. This year’s Canberra and Region Heritage Festival program featured 22 projects funded through these grants.

This year’s selected projects include restoration of heritage places and objects, oral histories, publications and tours.

The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust

The Woodlands & Wetlands Trust will receive a $20,200 grant.

They will use this to create a self-guided interpretive trail at Mulligans Flat.

“This will showcase the geological heritage of Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary and tell stories about how geology has shaped the landscape and people’s connections to country,” CEO Dr Jason Cummings said.

The trail will give visitors to Mulligans Flat a new opportunity to engage with its natural and cultural landscape.

It will be particularly useful for school groups and will form part of the Canberra Tracks network.

“We will incorporate Ngunnawal perspectives and stories and take people on a journey through geological time. Interpretive signage will be installed to showcase local geological features and share stories about how geology shapes landscape features – water, plants, animals and people,” Jason said.

2024–25 individual recipients and projects

• Cuppacumbalong: Roof Conservation Works – $63,500
• Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association: Oral Histories in the modern era – $22,200
• Tidbinbilla Pioneers Association: Rock Valley Homestead Conservation Works – $17,000
• Canberra Baptist Church: Conservation Management Plan – $15,525
• Trevor Lipscombe: Griffith Weston Forest Trail Guidebook – $2,500
• Canberra & District Historical Society: Digitisation of Limestone Plains photographs – $780
• Hall Heritage Centre: Lyall Gillespie and the story of Ginninderra – $3,225
• Yarralumla Residents Association: Discovering and Valuing Yarralumla Heritage – $9,850
• Nick Swain: A History of the Mugga Lane area – $5,040
• Woodlands & Wetlands Trust: Canberra Tracks geo heritage trail at Mulligans Flat – $20,200
• University of Canberra: A City by Design – $32,500
• Theatre Organ Society of Australia: Compton Organ maintenance, Albert Hall – $4,680
• Free Serbian Orthodox Church St George: Murals Restoration Works – $9,500.

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In brief:

• The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ‘Cottage’ program will relocate.
• It will move to a brand-new facility in Lyons in 2026.
• This is the first step in preparing the site at North Canberra Hospital for demolition, ahead of building a new northside hospital.

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The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ‘Cottage’ program at North Canberra Hospital will relocate to the southside.

It will move to a new purpose-built facility in Lyons in 2026.

The CAMHS Childhood Early Intervention Program and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Program will also relocate to Lyons.

CAMHS Cottage program

The Cottage is a day program for teens with moderate to severe mental health issues. These issues impact their ability to attend school.

The program has been successful in supporting young people to make functional gains.

It also helps build their confidence and capacity to return to school or other programs.

The new location

The new Lyons location offers young people easy access to:

• public transport
• active travel networks
• green space
• recreation activities
• other services.

The ACT Government has appointed Billard Leece Partnership Pty Ltd as the design partner for the new facility.

Design input from young people, carers, clinicians and the local community will help ensure it meets the needs of staff, patients and their families.

The facility is expected to be complete in 2026. Until then, the Cottage will continue to operate at its existing site at North Canberra Hospital.

Preparing for the new hospital

This planned move represents the first step in preparing the site for demolition ahead of construction of the new northside hospital.

The ACT Government is working with clinical services on the North Canberra Hospital campus to:

• understand current and future needs
• explore suitable locations for services that will have to move over the next few years.

Find more information on the Northside Hospital Project at builtforcbr.act.gov.au.

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Two new suburbs in the Molonglo Valley will be named Bandler and Sulman.

These honour prominent Australians Faith Bandler AC and Sir John Sulman.

These new suburbs will sit within the Molonglo Valley 3 East development. This is the next major stage of suburban development in the area.

Bandler will be developed first. It will sit east of Whitlam across John Gorton Drive.

This will bring the number of suburbs in the district to seven.

Naming Canberra suburbs and places allows us to celebrate influential people from all backgrounds.

Faith Bandler AC

Ida Lessing Faith Bandler was a human rights activist, social justice advocate and author.

She helped raise public awareness and understanding of:

• the cultural heritage of South Sea Islanders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• women’s issues.

Faith’s daughter Associate Professor Lilon Bandler said the naming acknowledged her mother’s dedication to creating a more just, inclusive world.

“She had an unwavering commitment to civil rights and social reform that has left an indelible mark on our history. It is deeply moving to see her legacy honoured through the naming of this new suburb in Canberra, a city she visited many, many times.

“As her daughter, I find it particularly fitting that the Division of Bandler will be located next to the Division of Whitlam. My mother often spoke of the importance of visionary leadership in creating social change,” Lilon said.

Sir John Sulman

Sir John Sulman was an architect and town planner. He helped shape Canberra in its early development and influenced the city’s design.

He was appointed Knight Bachelor of the British Empire in 1924. This was in recognition of his influence and contributions in architecture.

“Members of the extended Sulman family are delighted that my great-grandfather Sir John Sulman is being so very appropriately honoured,” Sir John’s great-grandson Emeritus Professor David Carment AM said.

“He deserves this recognition for his significant contributions to Australia as an architect, patron of the arts, town planner and writer, and particularly for his vital role in Canberra’s development,” David said.

Suburban themes

Each suburb in the ACT has a theme used to help name its streets.

For Bandler, the theme will be ‘Australian Social and Cultural Life’.

For Sulman, it will be ‘Humanities and Social Sciences’.

A possible town centre

There is another suburb expected for the Molonglo Valley. This is yet to be named.

The National Capital Authority is currently considering the reclassification of the commercial centre of Molonglo as a Town Centre.

Have your say

The ACT Place Names Advisory Committee welcomes suggestions of names and feedback from the Canberra community.

More information about how places are named and how to provide feedback is available on the Place names page on the ACT Planning website.

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In brief:

• Construction has started on the Garran Primary School modernisation.
• The groundwork has been laid, and buildings will be constructed on the northern section of the schoolgrounds over the coming months.
• The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.

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Construction work on the Garran Primary School modernisation is now underway.

Over the last few months, construction crews have forged ahead on the project. This has included:

• excavating the site
• pouring the foundations for new buildings
• installing stormwater infrastructure to support the new school and preschool campus.

Now that the groundwork is in place, it’s time to start building up.

Over the coming months you’ll see buildings rise out of the ground in the northern sections of the schoolgrounds. This will include the library, preschool and learning community buildings.

Once complete, the modernisation of Garran Primary will increase capacity up to 975 students from preschool to year 6. It will include:

• new learning areas
• playgrounds
• a new double gymnasium
• hard courts
• green spaces
• and more.

The first stage of the project involves the construction of the new school campus and preschool. This first stage of the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025 with students moving into the new school campus shortly after.

The second stage of the project will involve:

• demolishing the old school buildings in the southern half of the school grounds
• building a new double gymnasium
• building external learning play spaces.

This second stage of the project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

Find out more information about the project.

Visit the Garran Primary School Modernisation webpage for further details.

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