City planner dies
Prominent town planner and major contributor to the city of Canberra, Patrick Troy (pictured) has died aged 82.
Professor Troy published 15 books on cities and many papers on housing, infrastructure, transport, urban planning and development, and energy and water consumption.
He was Deputy Secretary in the Federal Department of Urban and Regional Development in the Whitlam Government and most recently, Emeritus Professor and Visiting Fellow at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.
Smart embassy signs up
Actsmart business accreditation has been awarded to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
There are now 14 embassies which are signed up to the Actsmart Business Recycling program.
After an assessment by the Actsmart team, the Netherlands embassy was provided with a plan outlining ways to increase recycling and reduce waste.
It acted on a number of the recommendations, helping it become more environmentally responsible. It was able to remove one of its waste bins to effectively halve what it sent to landfill.
Belconnen lines up for green bins
Registrations are now open for householders in Belconnen to receive the Territory’s green bin service.
Residents can now opt-in for a one-off $50 payment to receive a green bin, with eligible concession card holders exempt from payment.
Results from the pilot services in Weston Creek and Tuggeranong have resulted in more than 9,700 residents signing up in Weston Creek and 12,700 taking a bin in Tuggeranong.
Following the Belconnen rollout of green bins the remainder of Canberra can expect to be invited to receive the service from July 2019.
Giralang gets go-ahead
The Minister for Planning and Land Management has used his ‘call-in’ powers to approve a development proposal for the Giralang Shopping Centre.
The Minister, Mick Gentleman said he had used his powers because he considered the proposal would provide a long overdue substantial public benefit, particularly to the community of Giralang and surrounding suburbs.
The new local centre will be a contemporary mixed-use development, with ground floor commercial uses, including a 1,000 square metre supermarket and other commercial tenancies; basement parking; and 50 residential units over four levels.
Following such approval the decision cannot be reviewed by a third party in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Maternity ward upgraded
A newly refurbished maternity ward has been completed at Calvary Public Hospital.
The $2.6 million upgrade includes an expanded capacity to 18 beds; a reconfigured Maternity Unit that now has 10 single rooms and four large twin rooms; a patient and family lounge and baby assessment room, and enhanced facilities for partners who want to stay at the hospital.
The patient and public areas have been redecorated to create a colourful and contemporary feel for the unit.
Tours of Calvary Public Hospital’s maternity ward are conducted every Sunday at 2.30pm.
Awards for ESA volunteers
The inaugural ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) Long Service Medal has been awarded to 12 Mapping and Planning Support (MAPS) volunteers.
MAPS volunteers are qualified spatial or Graphic Information System (GIS) professionals who volunteer with the ACT ESA to assist in providing mapping and GIS support during emergency incidents.
Canberra is home to the largest concentration per capita of GIS professionals in Australia.
The award recognises volunteers and staff who have provided services to the ACT ESA for 10 years or more.
Stronger protections for sex workers
New laws passed by the Legislative Assembly introduce stronger rights and better safety protections for workers in the Territory’s sex industry.
The Prostitution Amendment Bill 2018 removes derogatory references to sex workers, and ensures they are better protected in the community.
One amendment means that sole operators in the sex industry will no longer be required to register with Access Canberra. Previously, failing to register was a criminal offence.
The new laws also strengthen the protection of young people by making the offence of causing anyone under 18 years to provide commercial sexual services an absolute liability offence.
