Suburbs to get overhaul
Improvements to the suburbs of Page and Hughes are aimed at making them more age-friendly.
Construction work will begin in both suburbs in the coming weeks and is expected to be completed by mid-year.
Page and Hughes are the fifth and sixth suburbs to receive active travel upgrades under the Age Friendly Suburbs program.
It follows the completion of improvements in Ainslie, Weston, Kaleen and Monash.
Libraries book in long weekend
Libraries ACT has announced that all its branches and the ACT Heritage Library will be closed for the Queen’s Birthday public holiday on 11 June.
Online services will be available, including downloading eBooks, eAudio, digital magazines and music, and searching, requesting and renewing items online.
Items can be returned using the return chutes located at the branches.
Plan variation to end anomaly
A Draft Variation (DV) 350 to the Territory Plan will change the definition and naming of “single dwelling block” to “standard block”.
A small number of residential blocks developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s contained two dwellings (a house and small flat) and subsequently were not covered by the definition of “single dwelling block”.
As a result, unintended consequences arose, with irregular redevelopments such as multi-unit developments on individual blocks.
Such multi-unit developments would normally be prohibited on these blocks.
Information about Draft Variation as well as details on how to comment on DV350 and others can be accessed at this PS News link.
Committee extends submissions
The Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Renewal has extended the submissions date for its inquiry into Engagement with Development Application Processes in the ACT.
Committee Chair, Caroline Le Couteur said there was considerable interest in the inquiry but community members wanted additional time to respond.
Written submissions should now be lodged by close of business on 3 August.
Traffic switched in road duplication
Transport Canberra and City Services has announced that traffic has switched to the new carriageway between the Gundaroo Drive/David Walsh Avenue intersection and Mulligans Flat Road on Horse Park Drive in Gungahlin.
Horse Park Drive is a key access road for the region, with around 18,000 vehicles travelling on it each day, making its duplication essential.
The duplication will help service the thousands of new residents expected in the area over the coming decade.
It will increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve safety for all road users.
New Arboretum garden
A new garden has been established at the National Arboretum Canberra.
The garden, at Dairy Farmers Hill, features snow gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) and is sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum.
It will be known as the Friends Garden.
Small shrub and grass species, including correa, rhagodia, westringia and poa, were chosen for their colour contrasts, texture and movement, as well as their low water requirement and general hardiness.
As the plants grow, they will form swathes of green along the pathway to Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout.
