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October 22

Hello Canberra,

This is a previous issue of the Canberra Digest newsletter.

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📆 Today: It’s Wednesday, 22 October.

🌧️ Weather: 31° with an 80% chance of rain in the afternoon and a possible severe thunderstorm.

Around Canberra: 🥾 Mindjagari Walking Track

Fancy a challenging walk? A new 14 km network of walking tracks has opened in Tidbinbilla—but this one’s for very experienced bushwalkers. Those willing to brave the steep slopes will be rewarded with incredible views from the Tidbinbilla ridgeline, along with enchanting subalpine woodlands, wildflowers and impressive rocky outcrops along the way. Mindjagari means “sky, the clouds appear” in Ngunnawal language. Details here.

This Weekend: 🌱 City Farm Open Day

Tucked away beside the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Canberra City Farm is a 2-hectare community hub in the heart of the city you’d probably never know was there. While members can grow their own produce in allotments, the farm is much more than that—it’s a hub for community and learning with regular workshops, working bees and social events, all run by volunteers. This weekend, the farm marks its 10th birthday with an open day—an invitation to explore, learn and get involved. Perfect for anyone interested in gardening, growing produce or sustainability. Details here.

📚 Canberra Reads

Sofie Laguna: Miles Franklin Award-winning author Sofie Laguna will be in conversation with Karen Viggers about her new novel The Underworld—Martha Mullins is a misfit. Her mother is glamorous, aloof and judgemental. Her father, mostly absent. Academic and shy, Martha finds herself fascinated by the underworld, a place she learns about in Roman mythology classes at school. Details here.

Hugh Mackay: Social psychologist and bestselling author Hugh Mackay will be in conversation with Alex Sloan about his new book Just Saying—exploring twenty-five remarkable quotations to enlighten, challenge and inspire, in which Hugh reflects on profound sayings, ancient and modern. Details here.

The Shortest History of Australia: Renowned historian Mark McKenna sits down with Frank Bongiorno to discuss his new book The Shortest History of Australia—a compelling new version of our national story. Details here.

Canberra Writers Festival: There are still plenty of tickets available for the many Canberra Writers Festival sessions happening over the coming days. Details here.

Kids: 🎈 PlayFest

PlayFEST is a family-friendly morning celebrating Children’s Week and all things playgroup. There’ll be Chloe Lim from Giggly Wiggly, story time with the Children’s Book Council of Australia, a visit from Constable Kenny Koala, and information on services supporting ACT families. It’s free and happening at Casey Recreation Community Park this Friday. Details here.

Tidbits

Commonwealth Bridge: Construction on the Commonwealth Bridge Strengthening Project is beginning soon—and you can expect some major traffic changes. The project, undertaken by the NCA, will require the two bridge spans to be lifted off the piers so new concrete slabs can be poured. Each side of the bridge will take one year to complete. During this time, traffic will be reduced to one side of the bridge, carrying both directions that merge at each end. The work is completely unrelated to light rail construction and cannot be done simultaneously with the future light rail bridge, which will be constructed in the gap down the middle. Work begins in November.

Big Splash: MLA Tara Cheyne has shared some details on the current state of Big Splash. Access Canberra has been in contact with the owners of the waterpark, and a Controlled Activity Order has been issued requiring them to repair and maintain the fence and bring the block into “good order”. The owners have reportedly advised they’re planning to reopen the park in mid-November. If it fails to open, they could face regulatory action under lease use provisions. Will it reopen this year? I’m not convinced it will—but at least there’s some news.

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