Andrew Barr is breaking out the champagne over this year’s Enlighten numbers:
More than 115,000 people attended the free and ticketed events during ENLIGHTEN 2013, an increase of 290% on last year’s figure of 29,437, according to an independent evaluation report issued today.
Enlighten, which was staged from March 1-9, with a focus on the weekends of [...]

This morning Andrew Barr opened Entry 29, a new work space whose goal is to assist start-up businesses.
Located in Childers Street, near the ANU, Entry 29 is aimed at encouraging and driving the technology development process by allowing start-up operators to mingle and collaborate with like-minded individuals.
It also offers meeting facilities, access to [...]

Shane Rattenbury has annoucned that SITA Australia has won the contract to handle our garbage:
A new contract has been awarded for the provision of domestic waste and recycling collection services in the ACT, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, announced today.
“I’m pleased to announce that SITA Australia (SITA) has been awarded the [...]

As a part of the Innovation Connect grant program five Canberran business have been awarded over $228,000 this year in order to encourage innovation.
In a highly competitive round, the successful applicants are:
– ScienceAlert Pty Ltd – For the creation of a specialised online network of science-related videos.
– Qhopper™ Pty Ltd – A start-up venture that [...]

Macrobusiness have a detailed look at the increasing supply of housing in the ACT at the same time the Abbott juggernaut threatens to depopulate the city.
It doesn’t take an economic genius to guess what’s going to happen next.
Picking the bottom of the market to start buying however is always harder. The lessons of ’96 are [...]

Hoping someone can point me in the direction of a quality accountant who has a sound knowledge of small business finances.
I work a full time job and run a small business on the side which is growing by the day.  I currently have an accountant who has seemingly limited knowledge and only expands on said [...]

Tony Abbott reaffirmed his previous promise to remove 12,000 jobs from the public service during his budget reply speech if elected.
That is a lot of unemployed Canberrans.
The recommitment to slash public service positions comes just one night after Treasurer Wayne Swan allayed fears of mass redundancies by announcing that only around 1200 positions would not [...]

Liberal Andrew Wall is breaking out the bubbly after his Calwell Master Plan motion got up in the Assembly:
Member for Brindabella Andrew Wall successfully moved a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly this afternoon, resulting in the Calwell Group Centre and Tuggeranong Homestead site being placed on the schedule for upcoming master plans.
“As a result [...]

Joy Burch has the happy news that fortifying Canberra’s schools is paying off:
New security fences erected at ACT Government schools have helped to halve the incidence and cost of vandalism over the past three years, ACT Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch said.
Figures from the Education and Training Directorate show that between 2009 and [...]

Simon Corbell has announced Draft Variation 311 to totally rejig Dickson and send the skyline soaring:
“Variation 311 puts Territory Plan controls in place to start rolling out the initiatives of the Dickson master plan, which include up to six stories in areas and improved pedestrian connections – particularly through to Challis St,” Mr Corbell said.
Other [...]

With the 2011 Yellow Pages propping my third monitor up acceptably I had wondered what purpose the 2013 edition could serve.
Fortunately at a Dickson apartment complex I saw the package made a very handy door stop.
It does make one weep for the businesses who have paid vast rivers of gold to be included.
We’d certainly like [...]

Hi all,
I know there was a similar trail here before but it’s over 2 years old so here goes: can anybody recommend a good dog boarding kennel in the Canberra area?
Thanks.

Seems Canberra has to pull its weight much more entrepreneurially, Terry Snow is the only Canberran who makes the BRW richest 200 list according to the AFR. We’re still burdened with the Public Service mentality it seems.
Interestingly ex Canberran and ANU alumni, Graham Tuckwell, makes it to 47th position.

The Australian has grim news of just how the Gillard Government is going to plug the gap of its runaway spending.
With the bodies of EL1s and 2s it seems:
Finance Minister Penny Wong said the public service would be asked to find $580 million in savings to help fund the NDIS and Gonski.
The savings, over four [...]

The Property Council have expressed their pleasure that Draft Variation 306 is going to be further consulted on, during which time you can be cut off from the sun.
The ACT Government has wisely decided to adopt a staged introduction of new planning regulations for housing and to consult further on issues of community and industry [...]

Like many people I have super all over the place. My largest fund is a multi-billion dollar one, with all sorts of investments and regularly advertises on television. Their customer service leaves a lot to be desired though. It is bad. I can’t go visit them in an office because their nearest one is in [...]

The Liberals’ Alistair Coe has announced a doomed run at de-railing Draft Variation 306 because he wants poor people to live in darkness.
Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Alistair Coe will today try to block Draft Variation 306 which has been widely condemned by the building industry. The Government’s changes to the planning rules will [...]

Over the past election cycle I have heard just about everything about what is going to happen to the APS, after the inevitable election of an Abbott Federal Government. In recent days Tony has said he will move APS jobs to regional areas, Big Joe has been saying for months that the coalition will cut [...]

Andrew Barr has announced he’s going to stop playing dollhouses with supermarkets in the ACT:
In its response the Government notes that there have been several important changes in the Territory’s supermarket sector since 2010, when the Government introduced the Supermarket Competition Policy Implementation Plan (SCPIP).
These changes include:
– The new ‘full-line’ supermarkets to be built in [...]

I took a ride up to Downer Shops on the weekend … and took some photos … the shop side is truly derelict.

One of my first group houses in the early 90′s was a weatherboard affair in Durack Street (which incidentally was the coldest house I’ve ever lived in) and Downer Shops was my local. [...]

[ 9 May, 2013 to 11 May, 2013. ] .

People who operate tourism businesses are invited to enter their business in the Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards.
The Awards recognise outstanding tourism businesses and organisations, and provide an opportunity for entrants to ensure their business continues to develop and enhances the many unique experiences our region has to offer.
While recognising and rewarding tourism excellence, [...]

The Chief Minister’s Export Awards are calling for nominations:
Medical services to Africa, films to China and Germany, watches to Europe and wine to the Caribbean.
These are just some of Canberra’s leading exporters, who will compete once again for the 2013 ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards.
ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr was joined by Mr Glenn [...]

“Cutting out the red tape” is a popular phrase to many people because it means less work, however this time it may also save up to $400,000 a year in the community sector claims Andrew Barr in a release today.
Expect people to like that phrase even more soon.
The ACT Government is committed to reducing red [...]

Between news that Canberra is getting badly ripped off and Barcham getting bailed up for daring to take a picture of a price board this morning we think it’s time to do something.
So get snapping with your phones people and send in pictures of your local petrol station.
If they arc up remind them you’re on [...]

The Auditor-General has released her report on “Executive Remuneration Disclosed in ACTEW Corporation Limited’s (ACTEW) 2010-11 Financial Statements and Annual Report 2011″.
While it seems everything else is in order it took a long time to clear up the matter of the Managing Director’s pay:
The issuing of a corrigendum for ACTEW’s Annual Report 2011 was not [...]

Hospitality Magazine has the word that Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse is giving way to pommy superchef Jamie Oliver’s take on Italian:
Jamie’s Italian Australian partner, Pacific Restaurant Group, has announced it will close its Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse Canberra restaurant at the Canberra Centre to make way for the new venue.
Pacific Restaurant Group managing director [...]

Below is the list of hospitality venues winners of the AHA ACT Hospitality Awards for 2013, it is only slightly smaller than the list of hospitality venues that exist in the ACT.
What do you think readers? There are some I definitely agree with (Sage Restaurant for example), and a few I find quite confusing (Transit [...]

Simon Corbell has the happy news that the ACT is to enjoy relatively low electricity prices into the future:
The ACT is forecast to continue to have the lowest household electricity prices in Australia through to at least 2015, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell, said today.
“This is great news for the residents [...]

There is nothing quite as rewarding as the feeling of sourcing your electricity free from the sun.
And if you live on a farm not connected to the electricity grid, installing an off grid solar system is usually the cheapest, most effective and most sustainable way to secure your power needs – and protect [...]

The Property Council are sharing the results of their latest survey on sentiment amongst the property owners of Canberra:
Uncertainty in the Federal political environment and ongoing concern about domestic economic conditions continues to harm ACT property sector confidence, with new research showing an ongoing negative outlook for the industry.
The latest Property Council of Australia-ANZ Property [...]

It appears over 200 CSIRO staff members will soon be looking for new employment as CSIRO makes some drastic cuts to it’s budget reports ABC News.
Where did all the WIFI money go?
CSIRO chief executive Dr Megan Clark broke the news in an email sent to staff yesterday.
“The reductions will be made across the organisation, in [...]