High pollen season ahead

Canberrans are warned to prepare for a stronger grass pollen season this spring, as above-average rainfall and wet soils could increase grass growth.

ANU Professor Simon Haberle, who leads the Canberra Pollen Count and Forecast, said September and October would be critical: if conditions stay wet, we can expect higher pollen levels.

Canberra’s 2024 grass pollen season was relatively mild, with only four high pollen days.

Grass pollen is main trigger for hay fever and asthma in Canberra. The worst days typically occur in November.

Residents can monitor conditions and receive alerts via the Canberra Pollen website or app. Hay fever or asthma sufferers should talk to their doctor or pharmacist before the season begins.

Canberra celebrates 2025 Multicultural Award winners

Cricket advocates, health educators, education taskforces, and dragon dancers are among the winners of this year’s ACT Multicultural Awards.

Sanjay Sharma won the Individual Champion Award for his work fostering inclusion through cricket. He founded the Indian Australian Multicultural Sports Association (IAMSA) and Yerrabi District Cricket Club; supported Afghan girls resettling in the ACT; and raised money for the McGrath Breast Cancer Foundation.

The ACT Education Directorate’s Safe@School Taskforce received the Community Organisation Champion Award for developing new guidelines to help Sikh students practice their faith at ACT public schools.

Dr. Nilofar Ebrahimi, a former Afghan MP now working with Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT), won the Outstanding Excellence Award for Diversity and Inclusion. She has delivered culturally sensitive women’s health education sessions to the Afghan community, and founded the ZamZam Foundation, which teaches Afghan women to drive and swim.

Canberra Dragon Dance received the Arts, Media or Culture Award for its performances of Chinese lion and dragon dance and percussion.

The awards were presented on Tuesday night.

Liquid Instruments named ACT Exporter

ANU tech startup Liquid Instruments has been crowned ACT Exporter of the Year for 2025 at the Chief Minister’s Export Awards.

The company creates flexible, software-based test equipment that can help understand climate change, transition to renewable energies, and develop new medical solutions. Founded by Professor Daniel Shaddock and colleagues, its clients include NASA, Google, and Intel in sectors from telecommunications to aerospace.

Liquid Instruments also won the Manufacturing and Advanced Materials category.

Concern about crime in Canberra

The ACT is the Australian jurisdiction with the lowest community concern about crime, but concern has increased sharply over the past decade, according to new research from Roy Morgan.

51 per cent of Canberrans cited crime as a community concern in 2024–25, 6 per cent lower than NSW (57 per cent) and 26 per cent lower than Queensland (77 per cent).

However, concern had increased from 34 per cent in 2015–16 and a pre-pandemic low of 27 per cent in 2019–20.

Canberra Liberals MLA Deborah Morris, Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, claimed the figures showed the ACT Government’s “permissive” approach to crime was failing.

“The only people who seem to be safe in Canberra are the criminals who know this government will protect their ‘right’ to do whatever they want…” Ms Morris said.

She argued that bail laws were too lenient, and called for stronger measures such as anti-consorting laws and greater police resources.

“For too long, the ACT Labor government have hidden behind their argument of offender rights, and it’s time community concerns about safety were put first.”

In response, Dr Marisa Paterson MLA, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, said that Canberra was one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities (a 20+ per cent population increase since 2015), and the decline in community perceptions of safety aligned with the national trend.

The government was increasing police personnel and improving infrastructure, and strengthening the justice and bail systems.

“We take every feeling of insecurity seriously and are committed to listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to ensure every Canberran feels safe,” Dr Paterson said.

“Concerns can sometimes be heightened by political rhetoric. Our focus remains on fostering a safe, inclusive Canberra where everyone can feel secure and supported.”

Coppins Crossing Road closures for Molonglo River Bridge works

Coppins Crossing Road will be closed twice in late September and early October as work continues on the new Molonglo River Bridge.

The road will be shut between Holborow Avenue and Hazel Hawke Avenue from 9:30am Friday 26 September to 3pm Monday 29 September (with a contingency day of Tuesday 30 September), and again from 6am Tuesday 7 October to 6pm Sunday 12 October.

The closures will allow crews to lift precast concrete deck slabs onto the bridge girders.

Detours will be in place:

• Southbound from Belconnen: From William Hovell Drive, take the off ramp to Parkes Way and merge onto Tuggeranong Parkway.
• Northbound from Molonglo Valley: From John Gorton Drive, turn onto Cotter Road then follow the ramp onto Tuggeranong Parkway, and take the left exit at Glenloch interchange to merge onto William Hovell Drive.

The $230 million project, jointly funded by the ACT and Australian Governments, will include a 200-metre-long bridge, 1.7 kilometres of new arterial roads, and off-road cycling and walking paths.

Further full and off-peak closures are planned between November and March 2026 for deck pours, safety barrier installation, and other works.

For updates, visit www.act.gov.au/builtforcbr/travel-impacts. For changes to public transport: https://www.transport.act.gov.au