The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury is holding forth over last week’s report by the Environment Commissioner on the state of Lake Burley Griffin:
“It was interesting to learn that the bulk of contamination is coming from often unsuspected household sources such as garden chemicals, organic waste and pet faeces.
”Significantly, the Commissioner has identified numerous ways for us [...]

Does anyone know if it is legal for people to host mini bonfires in their backyards?
I live in Dunlop (where the houses are so close you can hear your neighbour flush their toilet) and the people behind me are hosting a little gathering with their friends, I can hear everything.
It’s almost 3am and I’d [...]

Andrew Barr is letting us know he’s kicked off the plantings for Floriade.
And the theme this year is Style and Design.
One can’t help wondering if it’s been chosen for commercial cross over considerations (and possibly that the flower beds are freed from having to look like anything)

And just because we can here’s our hexacopter ride [...]

Canberra’s poker machine empires masquerading as community operations are slowly coalescing:
The construction union’s Tradies Clubs, the Catholics’ Southern Cross Clubs, the Hellenic Clubs, Rugby’s Vikings and the Labor Party’s Labor Clubs.
We have no doubt once all the little clubs are swallowed up the elephants will dance.
But to facilitate the process Labor’s Joy Burch has [...]

Andrew Barr has let it be known the Assembly has passed his Duties (Landholders) Amendment Bill 2012.
The Bill will reduce complexity and regulation for landholders, improve the ACT’s investment competitiveness, and appropriately align ACT regulations with NSW.
The amendments will:
– Align landholder provisions in the ACT more closely with NSW;
– Significantly reduce the administrative burden on [...]

Rioters
We’re in the midst of an extensive reno, builder has already flagged the need for us to actually move out for a period when he’s done with the new room and ready to start work on the internal changes to existing house. 
I’m conscious of major disruptions to family life and was considering the option [...]

The Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur is expressing her pleasure that development proposals will have to be communicated better to the neighbours:
“These amendments give a better balance to the rights of residents to be informed and have a say in developments that affect them with the need for an efficient planning system,” said Caroline Le [...]

Hello fellow ACT rioters,
I plan to sell my property for the first time soon, so this query is for those property owners/landlords who recently sold their properties through a real estate agent.
What are the common commission and charges around at the moment?
Is it worth using a real estate agent or is it better to sell [...]

Yesterday we noted there was news on the National Capital Authority getting some much needed money in exchange for making life easier for property developers.
Today it becomes clear that Simon Crean has announced this as part of the Government response to the Hawke review.

“The report’s recommendations included simplifying the planning system and better recognising the [...]

My mother is looking to have her blinds cleaned, and I would be grateful for any recommendations on a blind cleaning service.
She doesnt want to spend bucketloads obviously, though I think a mob that comes to the home and does them will save everyone’s blood pressure.
Thanks

Hey all
We are gathering quotes for kitchen renovations. I realise this has been asked before, but some of the companies that were mentioned previously are now out of business .
Feedback on costs, timeliness and whether the product met your expectations much appreciated.

The ACT Taxation Review is now online as is the Government response.
Recommendations agreed or agreed in Principle are:
– Recommendation 1
Adopt taxation instruments and settings that deliver stable revenue growth proportionate with economic growth.
– Recommendation 2
With regards to long term structural reform, over a period of time that is adequate for appropriate transition:
a) abolish duty on [...]

Liberal leader Zed Seselja is giving Andrew Barr the rounds of the kitchen for unsurprisingly not being signed up to Zed’s political orthodoxy.
Question: ‘Is the government’s affordable housing plan premised on the assumption that everyone in their lifetime will be able to purchase a home, or does it recognise that home ownership is unlikely [...]

Simon Corbell has heralded the tabling of Variation 307 in the Legislative Assembly which will let the Brumbies turn their Griffith HQ into lots of lucrative apartments:
Variation 307 rezones the site from current commercial CZ6 leisure and accommodation zoning to the RZ4 medium density residential zone.
“Variation 307 has been subject to detailed scrutiny both by [...]

Following on from this morning’s story on the woeful state of housing affordability (as opposed to house affordability) in Canberra the Greens have announced how they’d help low income renters, who surely should be the focus of policy making rather than giving a discount house to a handful of lottery winners.
“The ACT Government is due [...]

I am new to Canberra and I am looking at buying a property. 
I was wondering where Private sellers advertise their properties for sale?  Aside from All Homes.
Can anyone can point me in the direction of websites or publications?

The ABC has a story on Anglicare’s latest data showing Canberra, despite multi point government plans announced with much backslapping and fanfare, is the worst place in the country:
Anglicare’s National Rental Affordability Snapshot examined about 50,000 properties for rent across Australia, testing how affordable the private rental market is for households on government payments [...]

What breed of chooks should we buy for our backyard?

This has been sent in and may be of interest:
Want to be smarter with your energy use? Have a warmer house in winter, a cooler one in summer, and reduce your energy bills?
These workshops are for you, and free for ACT residents. Places are limited.
(1) Home Improvements – Discover how to [...]

Looking for a domestic cleaner in West Belconnen.

The focus of a media release by the ACT Territory and Municipal Services Directorate is, fittingly, the upcoming ANZAC Day. According to the release, Yarralumla Nursery have plants for sale with ties to Gallipoli- the Lone Pine, Gallipoli Rosemary and Gallipoli Rose.
The Lone Pine, which the Yarralumla Nursery has grown since 1950, has a [...]

I’m an expat from the US and we love Canberra!
With autumn upon us, I’m wondering if there are any pick-your-own orchards in the region.
I have such fond memories of plucking apples and pears from orchard trees and would love to have my daughter experience it as well. (You collect the [...]

It’s been a busy two months in the Taratory since our last wrap in February – but that’s because there’s been plenty to do in and around Canberra!
First of all, we’ve quite simply done a lot of eating. On johnboy’s recommendation, T1 checked out what all the fuss was about at Sage, and was totally [...]

In need of some advice please.
My husband and I need to break the lease on our  rental property, we still have 4 months left of the fixed term. We are having to break lease due to a loss of income and my husband has moved away from Canberra for work and we cannot afford 2 [...]

Good Day Rioters,
Moved into a new property and are in the progress of doing the front garden. We did the right thing and called dial before you dig – got the plans and marked out where I thought they ran.
We were a little close to the gas line for my liking – so we gave [...]

I have been having a lot of issues with my builder and he could not complete the house on time and on budget and within the quality that i was expected. The more i talk to people the more i realise that this is very common in the ACT and most of the time people [...]

Hi there and Happy Easter fellow Riot’ers.  I’m wondering if you can again offer me some sagely advice?   I have recently purchased an older property that has stood empty for at least the last three months and we are encountering creepy crawlies everywhere.
For my partner’s piece of mind, we’re considering getting pest control in to [...]

Hi, anyone have recommendations for gas ducted heating installers?
Our house has existing (unused) system but am looking to get more points (ducts) installed….thanks

Warning all keen horticulturists the late night gardeners are busy at it as per usual this time of year.
Had 2 beauties removed last night so be aware, the flea bags are on the prowl!!

Liberal Leader Zed Seselja is pointing out that Canberra median house prices are now the most expensive in the nation (despite our leading housing affordabilty and multi point plans, how can this be?) while builders are going on strike after having been asked to give some of their windfall profits back to the community.
“ACT Labor [...]

After spending a lovely Friday evening out with some friends, I came home this weekend in the hope of getting some much needed sleep.
Unfortunately the minute I walked into the stairwell of my Braddon apartment complex I was faced with this sound. While I tried to get to sleep for several hours, feeling extremely awkward [...]

We couldn’t make up Canberra if we tried, and if we did no-one would believe us.
Reader’s will no doubt be breaking out the champagne following the news from Andrew Barr that an agreement has been reached with the Conservation Council to preserve the habitat of the Pink-Tailed Worm Lizard in the Molonglo River Corridor:
The [...]