Paddle boats return to Lake Burley Griffin

Paddle boats will return to Lake Burley Griffin this weekend, after the National Capital Authority signed an agreement with Love Boats Canberra to restore and operate the iconic vessels.

Under the agreement, six historic vessels, accommodating two people each, will be restored and operate from Regatta Point Jetty.

Nine new paddle boats will operate from Commonwealth Place. These will accommodate up to four adults and will be shaded from the sun, so they are comfortable on summer days.

The paddle boats will be available for hire on weekends throughout the year and on weekdays during school holidays – costing $30 for half an hour, and $40 for an hour.

Final Territory Plan for housing reform

The ACT Government has finalised the Territory Plan under the new planning system, which comes into effect on 27 September. It incorporates changes identified since November, planning minister Chris Steel said, such as reclassifying the Molonglo commercial centre as a Town Centre.

The government will use the Territory Plan to deliver more well designed and sustainable housing, Mr Steel said. The ACT Government has appointed consulting firm Urbis to develop a draft ‘missing middle’ design guide, targeting missing middle housing like duplexes, townhouse, and row houses on RZ1 blocks. The government is also planning more housing in key precincts, transport corridors, and at shopping centres.

Right to healthy environment

In an Australian first, the right to a healthy environment has been enshrined in the ACT’s Human Rights Act.

The right to a healthy environment includes a right to clean air; a safe climate; access to safe water and to healthy and sustainably produced food; non-toxic environments in which to live, work, study, and play; and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems.

ACT public authority functions and decision-making will consider the environment and climate.

The public will be able to complain to the ACT Human Rights Commission about breaches of the right to a healthy environment.

The bill will begin up to six months after the Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023 is notified.

ACT Greens pledge $50 million to healthy local waterways

The ACT Greens have promised to invest $50 million to expand the Healthy Waterways program.

Projects include restoring a creek line and reconnecting it with Tuggeranong Creek at Tuggeranong Homestead in Richardson; delivering stage one of the Sullivans Creek Re-naturalisation Plan; building a wetland next to Yarralumla Bay; building a rain garden at Bevans Street playground in Higgins; and completing a design study for re-naturalisation of the concrete channel in Telopea Park.

“Caring for waterways is more important than ever as our city grows, and as the climate changes,” ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said. “Only the Greens have a plan to protect and improve the health of these arteries and veins of our local environment.”

Fiona Carrick announces second support candidate

Bruce Paine will be Fiona Carrick’s support candidate for the electorate of Murrumbidgee in October’s ACT Legislative Assembly election, alongside Marea Fatseas (announced in July).

Mr Paine ran as an independent in Kurrajong in 2020, and describes himself as “socially progressive and financially responsible”. Before his retirement, Mr Paine was a senior public servant in the Federal Department of the Treasury for 30 years. He has lived in Canberra since 1970, went to Campbell High School, worked in the residential construction sector, and studied Economics at ANU. An advocate for active travel, he was treasurer of Pedal Power (ACT).

“Bruce has demonstrated an active interest in the performance of the ACT Government,” Ms Carrick said. “Bruce’s particular interests include improving the consultation, transparency and accountability of the ACT government – aspects that he considers have been materially deficient during recent years of the ACT Labor-Greens majority government.”

Mr Paine has, for instance, queried Mr Steel’s claim that the ACT Government has been “upfront and transparent” about the cost of light rail, and asked for actuals for stage 1 and estimates for stage 2.

Independents for Canberra promise to improve healthcare system

Independents for Canberra candidates have committed to tackle wait times in the ACT’s healthcare system, address Canberra’s GP workforce crisis, and develop a long-term vision for improving health outcomes for Canberrans.

“Something has to change,” said Thomas Emerson, the group’s leader and candidate for Kurrajong. “We have the least GPs per capita of any capital city in the country, the longest emergency wait times, the least Category 2 planned surgeries completed within clinically recommended timeframes, and Australia’s slowest aged care assessment turnaround times.”

Independents for Canberra say they would clear 75 per cent of the elective surgery waitlist within 12 months of being elected; implement a co-designed retention and burnout prevention strategy for GPs and offer an incentives package to attract new GPs, providing up to twenty $40,000 grants per year to incentivise GP registrars to train and remain in the ACT; and develop a long-term strategic vision for a nation-leading healthcare system that provides fully integrated care and makes Canberra the best place in the country for a career in health.

Preventing torture in ACT prisons

The ACT has passed a new law to prevent torture and ill-treatment in prisons, youth justice centres, and involuntary mental health facilities.

The Monitoring of Places of Detention Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 establishes a robust framework for independent oversight of places of detention, Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said.

The legislation implements the ACT’s international obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), an international agreement under which state parties agree to establish an independent National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) to inspect all places of detention and closed environments.

New licencing system for medical gas systems

From 11 December, people installing and working on medical gas systems in the ACT, including oxygen or nitrous oxide for hospital patients, will need to hold a licence as a Medical Gas Technician or Medical Gasfitter. 

The new Medical Gases Licensing Framework comes after two incidents in NSW where newborn babies were administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen in a hospital: one died and one was seriously injured. 

“Simply put, once this system is in place, if someone does not have the qualifications or experience to be working on medical gas, they will not be laying a single finger on the equipment,” Rebecca Vassarotti, Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction, said. 

Applications for the new licences will open on Monday 2 September. For more information, visit the ACT Planning website. The new licensing requirements were introduced through the Building and Construction Legislation Amendment Act 2023.