Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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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Final designs have been released for a new dog park in the Lanyon Valley.

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

The new off-leash fenced park will be located on the corner of Jim Pike Avenue and Woodcock Drive in Gordon.

Features for the new park include:

• small and large dog areas
• grass play area
• dog agility area
• two airlock style entrance gates
• accessible gravel loop path
• picnic shelter, seating and drinking fountain
• area for dog training marquee or coffee van
• plantings and native trees for canopy cover
• 1.8 metre high black chain link fence
• gravel car park.

Work is underway to complete final planning and environmental approvals.  Once finalised a construction company will be selected to build the new park.

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

^{Lanyon Valley Dog Park final design.}

^{Lanyon Valley Dog Park location.}

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Canberra Brain Cancer Collaborative has created Canberra’s first Brain Cancer Biobank.

Headed by Professor Leonie Quinn and her team, the collaborative has been able to develop this with a $300,000 grant awarded in the 2022 Research Innovation Fundround.

The biobank stores brain cancer biospecimens and genomic data from patients treated at Canberra Hospital.

It contributes to Brain Cancer Biobanking Australia – a virtual biobank hub that allows researchers around the country to access brain cancer tissue, samples and data.

The information gathered by the biobank enables researchers at ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research to create 3D bio-printed ‘mini brains’.

This allows them to analyse how tumours grow and respond to treatment, and to trial new therapeutic drugs tailored to each patient. It is hoped this will help develop new cancer treatments and improve clinical care.

“The ACT Health Research Innovation Fund has provided us with an exciting opportunity to explore the complex environment where brain cancer occurs and ultimately develop new treatments,” Professor Quinn, Canberra Brain Cancer Collaborative Lead and Research and Innovation Fund recipient, said.

“The biobank will enable more personalised treatments, which are critical to improving survival rates and quality of life for people diagnosed with the disease. It will secure the ACT as a health research hub and improve the clinical experience of cancer patients around Australia.”

The Research and Innovation Fund is guided by Better Together: A strategic plan for research in the ACT health system 2022-2030.

Five fellowships through the Research Innovation Fund2023 have recently been announced, supporting early and mid-career Canberra health researchers.

The diverse research projects selected include enhancing post-diagnostic care for dementia patients, supporting community response to voluntary assisted dying, and studying allergies and immunodeficienciesof patients in the ACT.

For more information about the fund go to health.act.gov.au/research/centre-health-and-medical-research.

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ACT small businesses can now access rebates of up to $10,000 to help transition their workplaces and work practices away from fossil-fuel gas to efficient electric appliances.

The rebates will support businesses to be more sustainable, in reducing both their emissions and operating costs.

Small to medium business can take advantage of the rebate, to upgrade to efficient electric appliances.

The rebates can pay for up to half the upfront cost of upgrading.

The ACT Government’s Sustainable Business Program complements the new rebate. The program provides expert advice at no cost, helping businesses identify areas of their business they can improve and act in the smartest, most cost-effective way.

The Downer Community Centre is using the new rebate to switch from gas heating to efficient reverse cycle heating. This change will help them save $1900 per year in bills and two tonnes per year of CO₂ emissions.

ACT businesses with fewer than 20 employees are eligible for up to $10,000 in support through energy efficiency rebates.

The maximum rebate for electric-to-electric upgrades is $5,000 (incl GST), while fossil-fuel gas-to-electric upgrade rebates are capped at $10,000 (including GST).

To find out more, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website, or contact the Sustainable Business team at sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au.

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Future Swirl is a Canberra-based start-up whipping up a storm in the ice-cream world.

Founder Maddi Easterbrook wanted to challenge the popular coconut, almond and soy-based ice-creams that dominate the dairy free alternatives market, with an oat milk soft-serve.

A hugely successful summer season with a pop-up van in Braddon showed Maddi that her idea had real potential.

“We opened Summernats weekend in Braddon and I was blown away by the response,” said Maddi.

“It was by far our best weekend during that January to May period in the van. It was really reaffirming. I thought the Summernats demographic would not be my audience, but we had so many converts and repeat customers over that weekend who turned into oat milk soft-serve lovers! It showed me there’s a lot of potential for us to grow.”

That experience paved the way for Maddi to secure an Innovation Connect (ICON) grant from the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).

CBRIN receives funding from the ACT Government to support entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups—like Future Swirl—in Canberra. It offers business support, programs, grants and access to networks of other entrepreneurs.

“The idea [for the ICON grant] was to take that soft-serve, which you can only get when I’m selling at markets in the van, and bring it to independent grocers in Canberra and straight to our customers in take home tubs.

“I received matched funding for $30,000,” Maddi said. “I contributed $30,000 myself and bought machinery to scale the business and work on product development.

“With that money I can move manufacturing out of the pop-up van and into a premises.”

The take home tubs are being manufactured at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Technology (CEAT) at ANU. CEAT is another ACT Government grant-funded spin out from the Priority Investment Program.

“I would encourage anyone who is thinking of applying for an ICON grant to do it,” she said.

“I was nervous about pitching my idea against people developing AI and high-tech solutions.

“But plant-based food alternatives are a growing and global industry, valued at nearly $5 billion and it’s expected to reach just over $100 billion by 2030. Being a vegan myself, I’m in a unique position to create a product that I would want to eat, rather than multi-nationals that are producing because there is a gap in the market.

“CBRIN could see my product has the capacity to scale and succeed.”

Maddi’s oat milk soft-serve is also filling a much-needed gap in the food allergen market. Her soft-serve is nut free, dairy free and soy free.

“It was amazing to see children who had never eaten a soft-serve or ice-cream before, sitting in the park enjoying their first taste in their 10 or 12 years of life,” Maddi said.

“My desire to start Future Swirl came from being vegan and being passionate about sustainability and plant-based food being the best way for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. But meeting this need in the food allergen market has been an added bonus.

“It’s pretty great seeing the joy of a kid eating an soft-serve in the park! And soft-serves are very nostalgic.”

^{Future Swirl’s signature and most popular vanilla and chocolate oat milk based soft-serve.}

As for what’s next for Future Swirl, Maddi is preparing to bring her take home tubs to Canberrans but also has her eyes set on the Sydney and Melbourne market.

CBRIN’s ICON grants are currently open and close on 11 September.

For more information visit the ICON website.

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The ACT Government is providing a plan to create new jobs and develop innovative sustainable businesses by delivering Canberra’s first Circular Economy Strategy and action plan.

The new circular economy strategy recognises benefits of supporting businesses that reduce waste, while supporting solutions to product development and investment.

Through the strategy and plan, the Government wants to give businesses the tools they need to support more sustainable jobs, create stronger supply chains that reduce waste, and make the most of materials.

The strategy and action plan aims to achieve this across a broad range of industries, from technology and hardware, right through to food waste and building products.

It also addresses land use for businesses that might need to process materials that support resource recovery or to help design waste out of our systems in the first place.

The strategy identifies six areas of the economy to lead first efforts:

1. Food and garden organics
2. The built environment
3. Emerging and problematic waste streams
4. Consumer goods
5. A circular economy innovation precinct
6. Procurement, skills, and governance.

Importantly this strategy is backed by a series of individual action plans, which outline specific objectives of Government, industry, business and our community.

Major reforms have already started to improve resource recovery outcomes for the region.

This includes the bulky waste pick-up service, building a new materials recycling facility, a food organics collection service pilot and the ACT container deposit scheme.

Canberrans are also demonstrating leadership in growing the circular economy, with some great initiatives such as repair cafes, Community Toolbox Canberra, Lids for Kids and thriving second-hand markets.

Once the strategy is in place across a broad range of industries, the ACT Government aims to make further changes to supply chains and education, and help make jobs and businesses more innovative, sustainable, equitable, fair, and profitable.

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Construction is now complete on 30 new public housing homes in Calwell.

The townhouses are ready to welcome tenants and families most in need of housing support.

The 30 two- and three-bedroom townhouses are built to Class C Adaptable standards. This means they can be easily adapted to meet changing accessibility needs and support tenants to remain at home as they grow older.

The new homes are located close to schools, shops, services and transport.

They add to the category of public housing in highest demand – with approximately 80 per cent of all housing applicants able to be housed in a two-bedroom dwelling.

Construction took less than nine months for this project, which began in November 2022.

The project is a positive example of government and industry collaborating to deliver for the community.

More than 500 homes have been delivered under the ACT Government’s commitment and another 700 homes are currently underway in design or construction.

This is another step towards providing more people in need with safe, secure public housing.

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