Gungahlin Region Online

Harrison man arrested for robbery

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

ACT policing has arrested a 38-year-old Harrison man following the alleged forced entry of a Ngunnawal residence and the assault of a 42-year-old-man.

Around 10.45pm on Sunday (April 25) two men allegedly broke into the residence. The victim, who was in bed at the time, attempted to fight off the alleged offenders but fell to the floor, where he was kicked a number of times. The alleged offenders then left the house in a dark-coloured sedan.

The frame of the front door was shattered and an interior door leading to the victim’s bedroom was kicked off its hinges during the incident.

The victim sustained bruising and abrasions.

AFP Forensics Services attended and examined the scene. Investigations are continuing as to the identity of a second offender.

The 38-year-old alleged offender appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, April 26, charged with aggravated burglary with the intent to cause harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and property damage.

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 27 April 2010.

Source: Harrison man arrested for robbery

Free JP Service

Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Gungahlin residents now have access to a community service unique to the ACT.

Every Tuesday morning, members of the ACT justices of the Peace Association operate a stall in The G shopping complex in Gungahlin.

Member of the ACT Justices of the Peace Association Heather Boyd said the stall was a way to make JPs more available to the community. “A lot of our clients say to us that it is very hard to find a JP, so they are very grateful that our service is there,” she said. “Outside of law courts, our service is the only centrally located service in the ACT.”

Mrs Boyd said the stall, which has been running since June 2009, usually attracts more than 20 people in the three hours it is open a week.
Justices of the Peace serve the community primarily by administrating oaths or affidavits, witnessing statutory declarations and taking affirmations, witnessing signatures, and attesting and certifying documents.

The JP’s stall is located outside the Coles supermarket in The G, with members available every Tuesday from 9am to 12pm.

The service is free.

Source: Gungahlin News – October 2009.

Source: Free JP Service

Bulls’ perfect start

Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

The Gungahlin Bulls have got off to a perfect start in their 2010 Canberra Raiders Cup campaign, winning their first three matches.

The Bulls started the season with a commanding 54 – 12 victory over Yass, before two closer wins against defending premiers Goulburn (36 – 30) in round two and the Queanbeyan Kangaroos (24 – 16) in round four. The Bulls had the bye in round 3.

Source: Gungahlin News – May 2010

Source: Bulls’ perfect start

Gungahlin wins in the budget

Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Gungahlin will benefit from the transport funding splash the ACT Government provided in its budget earlier on May 4.

The 2010/11 budget includes $97 million of funding for measures to improve the ACTION bus service. This includes funding to design bus priority measures on Flemington Road between Mitchell and Gungahlin Town Centre, on Hibberson Street, and on Northbourne Avenue.

A major bus station will be built on Hibberson Street in 2011/10, and the government will conduct a feasibility study into other road improvements in the town centre, as recommended in a transportation study last year.
To further encourage people to use buses, a Park and Ride facility will be built at EPIC.

Also during the next financial year, a Bike and Ride locker will be built in the town centre. The weatherproof facility will take between 20 and 25 bicycles and will have swipecard access.

The government also announced it would fund the Valley Ponds project, with $6.5 million over the next two years set aside. The project involves building three connected ponds in an area around the scout shed on The Valley Way, which will harvest stormwater to irrigate the town park, college grounds, enclosed oval and Burgmann College.

An additional $6.5 million will be spent in 2011/12 to create a wellbeing precinct that will link the Valley Ponds project with the town centre via the enclosed oval.

There was also funding to begin work for three other projects to add to sport and recreational facilities in the Gungahlin area. Design work will begin next financial year for the Gungahlin Leisure Centre and Throsby multisports complex.

The former will include swimming and aquatic facilities and a health and fitness area, while the latter will have indoor and outdoor courts to accommodate a range of summer and winter sports.

There was also $2 million included for 2011/12 to build a second court in the planned Harrison High School gym – doubling its size – in response to community interest in using the facility.

A new primary school in Bonner and an early childhood school in Franklin will be designed with funds provided in this budget. The Bonner school will cater for preschool to Year 6 students mainly from Bonner and Forde.

The Franklin centre will have facilities for children up to eight years of age, including preschool to Year 2 classes, child care, community facilities, school aged care and children’s health programs.

Other educational-related expenditure in the area includes funding for the CIT to provide vocational education using the new college and library, and $2.9 million over four years for expenses related to the opening of the new library.

The government will conduct a feasibility study in the 2010/11 financial year to look at putting a Canberra Connect shopfront in Gungahlin. However, no funding was included in the forward estimates to turn this idea into reality.

Source: Gungahlin News – May 2010.

Source: Gungahlin wins in the budget

More blocks in Bonner

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced the release of another 349 residential blocks in the suburb of Bonner.

The Land Development Agency (LDA) will release blocks in stages 2B, 3A and 3B by ballot and registrations opened Tuesday last week (27 April) and close on Saturday, May 8.

The blocks range in size from 330 to 940 square metres. Interested buyers can register for the land ballot at the LDA office in Dickson during office hours, and also this Saturday.

More information can be found on the website www.lda.act.gov.au

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 4 May 2010.

Source: More blocks in Bonner

Gungahlin records a dry, sunny April

Sun, 02 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200

Weather conditions across Gungahlin during April were warmer, sunnier and drier than normal.

Nights were cool to mild, with an average minimum of 8.0°C. This compares to Gungahlin’s longer term April average of 7.3°C. The warmest night for the month occurred on April 24, when the temperature was a mild 13.3°C, while on April 13, it dropped to a frosty 0.6°C.

Days were generally mild to warm and sunny, with an average maximum of 20.8°C; up on last years average of 19.1°C. The highest temperature for the month was a warm 25.4°C, recorded on April 17, while on April 27, cloudy skies and gusty N winds combined to keep Gungahlin's maximum temperature to just 14.4°C.

Gungahlin recorded its first frost of the year on April 13 but, due to the milder than average overnight temperatures, this was the only one for the month. Proving winter isn’t too far away, Gungahlin received 3 fogs during April. There were no fogs recorded during April 2009.

Winds at the Weather Centre averaged at 2.6 km/h during April, with the strongest gust for the month 51.5 km/h from the NW, recorded on April 11.

After a couple of months of above average rainfall, dry conditions returned to the region during April. Gungahlin recorded just 19.2mm of rain for the month, over 7 days. This was well down on Gungahlin’s longer term April average of 28.2mm. Falls in other parts of Canberra were also light, with Canberra AP recording 20.0mm for the month, Tuggeranong 21.4mm, Monash 19.4mm and Belconnen 32.6mm. Gungahlin’s total rainfall so far in 2010 now stands at 180.2mm, well above the 126.8mm that fell over the same period last year.

Gungahlin's May outlook: Slightly milder, wetter weather conditions look likely for Gungahlin during May. Overall, daytime temperatures should average at around 16.5°C, and nights at 4.5°C. This compares to Gungahlin’s longer term May average of 3.8°C to 16.0°C. Rainfall prospects for the month ahead look a little grim. May is traditionally the driest month of the year in Gungahlin, with the average rainfall for the last 11 years only 22.8mm. May also holds the record of the only ‘dry’ month recorded in Gungahlin – not a drop of rain fell during May 2005. With this in mind, its unlikely Gungahlin will receive any more than 30mm of rain for the month.

Source: The Gungahlin Weather Centre - 2 May 2010.

Source: Gungahlin records a dry, sunny April

Televisions banned from landfill

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1200

From April 27, televisions will be banned from going into landfill and instead will have to be recycled for a fee at the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Management Centres.

The ACT is the first Australian jurisdiction to make this move, which Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said would divert 200 tonnes of televisions from entering landfill annually.

The fee for recycling a television at the resource management centres will range from $15 to $40, depending on the size of the television.

Once the National e-waste Scheme is introduced in the ACT next year, Mr Stanhope said e-waste recycling would be free.

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 20 April 2010.

Source: Televisions banned from landfill

Woolies to rescue extra food

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Gungahlin’s Woolworths supermarket will rescue surplus food from the store and turn it into meals for those in need.

The store will contribute to the chain’s national campaign to provide two million meals for those in need, and $2 million for those who serve them, to help address an underlying social problem in Australia.

Each year households, retailers, restaurants and businesses throw out millions of tonnes of food, which then finds its way into landfill sites.
Although not always fit for sale, much of it is good quality and could easily be rescued and turned into nutritious, healthy meals for the needy or vulnerable in society.

“We know that if we can ensure fresh edible food, which for various reasons we can no longer sell, is donated to charitable organisations, it can make a real difference to those people in the local community who have trouble putting three square meals on the table every day,” Woolworths Gungahlin store manager Dragan Cerveni said.

Source: Gungahlin News – April 2010.

Source: Woolies to rescue extra food

Concrete poured in Crace

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Buyers in Crace are now a step closer to moving into their homes after the first concrete was poured last Friday (26 March).

Project director Ian Dawkins said all of the Crace partner builders were well underway with construction activities and from now, homes should be built quickly. “This new activity is coming hot on the heels of the new terrace homes being built throughout our urban precinct,” he said. “It’s very exciting because the form of the suburb is really starting to take shape.”

He said the recent announcement that civil subcontractor Akron had been placed into liquidation had affected a small part of the work on Crace and these areas would be started on after Easter with a new contractor.

“Akron was not the developer of Crace and was only involved in a small part of the works relating to roads and services at the suburb,” Mr dawkins said.
“Nearly all of Akron’s work at Crace had been concluded when the liquidation announcement was made, so the impact has been minimal.”

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 30 March 2010.

Source: Concrete poured in Crace

Sod turned on synthetic sports field

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300

The sod was turned on the ACT’s largest synthetic sports field last Friday.
The $3 million sports field, jointly funded by the Australian and ACT Governments, will be enjoyed by both Gold Creek School and Holy Spirit Primary School.

The field will include two soccer pitches, which meet FIFA standards, a 300 metre, six lane, oval running track and lighting, a perimeter fence, landscaping and viewing platforms.

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 30 March 2010.

Source: Sod turned on synthetic sports field

Gungahlin records a hot, dry start to 2010

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Weather conditions across Gungahlin during January were warmer and considerably drier than normal.

Nights were mild to warm, with an average minimum of 14.8°C; up on the average of 13.6°C recorded last January and well above Gungahlin’s longer term January average of 13.9°C. The warmest night for the month occurred on January 12, when the temperature was a muggy 19.7°C, while on January 19, Gungahlin recorded its coolest January morning since the Weather Centre opened in 1999, with a low of 4.6°C.

Days were generally hot and cloudy, with an average maximum of 31.0°C; down slightly on last years average of 31.3°C, but above Gungahlin’s longer term January average of 29.4°C. The highest temperature for the month was a scorching 38.2°C, recorded on January 12, while on January 18, cloudy skies and gusty NW winds combined to keep Gungahlin's maximum temperature to just 18.1°C.

Winds at the Weather Centre averaged at 3.1 km/h during January, with the strongest gust for the month 46.7 km/h from the NW, recorded on January 20.

Following on from Gungahlin’s second driest year on record last year, rainfall during January was light and well below average. Gungahlin recorded just 6.0mm of rain for the month, over 4 days. This compares to the 54.4mm that fell last year, and Gungahlin’s longer term January average of 39.7mm. Falls in other parts of Canberra were also well below normal, with Canberra AP recording only 7.4mm for the month and Tuggeranong just 6.6mm.

Gungahlin's February outlook: Warmer and drier than normal weather conditions look set to continue across Gungahlin during February. Overall, daytime temperatures should average at around 29°C, and nights at 14°C. This compares to Gungahlin’s longer term February average of 13.7°C to 27.9°C. Rainfall prospects for the month look a little grim, with Gungahlin unlikely to receive its longer term February average of 45.8mm.

Source: The Gungahlin Weather Centre - 2 February 2010.

Source: Gungahlin records a hot, dry start to 2010

Water-saving lawn at Gungahlin Cemetery

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Gungahlin Cemetery has replaced some of its lawn with a new species of grass to see if it can save water.

Staff planted a variety of couch on about 7,500sqm in December and will measure its water consumption.

Canberra Cemeteries manager Hamish Home said he expected the cemetery would be able to cut water usage by almost a third.

If the trial is successful the new species of grass will be planted throughout all irrigated areas of Gungahlin and Woden cemeteries.

Source: Gungahlin News – February, 2010.

Source: Water-saving lawn at Gungahlin Cemetery

Bulls looking for future league stars

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Gungahlin Bulls Minor Rugby League Football Club is calling all youngsters with a passion for the game to register for the 2010 season.

Registration days will be held at the Nicholls playing fields on February 13 from 10am to 3pm and ‘The G’, outside Coles, on February 20 from 10am to 3pm.

Club president Shaun Hodson said registration for all junior grades would be taken, including midgets, four and five year old, non-playing teams. For children aged between six and 16, there are competition in minis, mods and international.

Registration forms can be downloaded from the club’s website, at www.gungahlinbulls.com.au, along with the required medical forms. For those unable to download the form, members manning the registration tables will have some available. Those registering must also provide a birth certificate and Medicare Card for verification purposes.

Last year, the club had 300 juniors on the field every Sunday and Hodson said he hoped to see the amount of players continue to grow. “We also have strong links into the senior league so the players can progress to the under 18s,” he said.

The Gungahlin Bulls Minor Rugby League Football Club has a strong history and was first formed as the Gungahlin Gallopers in 1988.

The club draws the majority of its player base from the already developed Gungahlin suburbs and with new ones set to come online soon, the future remains bright.

Source: Gungahlin News – February 2010.

Source: Bulls looking for future league stars

Turtle alerts a sign of the times

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1300

The ACT will have its first “turtle crossing” road signs next month when four new signs go up on Horse Park Drive in Gungahlin.

The signs will be erected near Yerrabi Pond and the Forde Wetlands, home to the eastern long-neck turtle.

Roads ACT director Tony Gill said the signs were modelled after turtle crossing signs in Western Australia. They were ordered after a caller to ABC talkback radio asked Chief Minister Jon Stanhope about several squashed turtles spotted on the road. Mr Gill said Roads ACT decided to install the signs after consulting an ecologist from its wildlife department. “There are some mixed views… on how effective these would be but given the nature of it we decided that putting the signs up… might do some good,” he said.

Canberra Nature Park ranger Daniel Iglesias said the eastern long-neck was the most common turtle in the ACT and lived in large bodies of water such as ponds or dams. “At certain times of the year they move around looking for new habitat and they also get out of water to lay their eggs but it’s usually not far from the creek or the river or the dam,” he said. “Sometimes when we have big downpours, they’re flushed out and people might see them wandering around.”

Motorists needed to use common sense if they saw the animals on the road. If the turtle was ‘moving along merrily’ then drivers should slow down and let it pass. If the turtle seemed in distress, they could carefully pick it up and place it on the bank of the dam.

“When they’re upset, as a defence mechanism… they’ll spit out this foul-smelling liquid and let me tell you it’s impossible to get it off,” he warned. “It goes everywhere, they can squeeze out for over a metre or so.”

Source: The Canberra Times – 6 February, 2010.

Source: Turtle alerts a sign of the times

Fingerlings cast into the lake

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1300

Wriggling and sliding down a plastic tube, 10,000 Murray Cod fingerlings took up residence in Gungahlin Pond last week.

The fish were the first released in this year’s round of the government’s regular fish restocking.

Mark Jekabsons, an aquatic ecologist with the Department of Territory and Municipal Services, said the fish released this year would be ready to catch in about three years time. And it is in the interests of keeping up the population of these fully grown, legally catchable fish, that the Canberra Fisherman’s Club helps fund the restocking program.

Club president Greg Davis said the money to help came from the annual Carp Out fundraiser. “There’s many reasons (we give funds); one is to help enhance the recreational fishing for our members and the community with the native fish and also, to some extent, help keep the carp and redfin down,” he said.

The government will also release Golden perch into Yerrabi Pond, Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong this year. Lake Burley Griffin is stocked by the National Capital Authority when it has enough funds.

Mr Jekabsons said they tried to release the fingerlings, or baby fish, in areas that were sheltered so not too many of them were eaten by birds and other wildlife. He said regular monitoring of the waterways where the fish had been released showed there was a good survival rate. The government has run its first fish stocking program since the mid-1990s, releasing more than a million fish into urban lakes in that time.

Source: The Northside Chronicle – 19 January 2010.

Source: Fingerlings cast into the lake