Category: MIL-OSI

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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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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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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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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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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