10 March 2011

Canberra looks like a dump...

| olfella
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I have just had a few days away in northern Victoria, around Echuca, Swan Hill, Bendigo and Beechworth. Lovely places to visit, and we were most impressed how each town presented itself especially with mowed lawns and tidy gardens in the public areas.

Upon returning home the difference is quite stark.

Has anyone else noticed how tired our city looking?

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dtc said :

Erg0 said :

I resent that remark, I take the time every weekend to wax and polish the rusty Camira that’s up on blocks in my front yard.

Surely you meant ‘white commodore’?

Nah, that’s my “formal” car – I use it for drink driving.

motleychick said :

trevar said :

Christchurch may be temporarily in that category too, but they’ve got a legitimate excuse…

Is that really necessary?

Well, no, but New Zealanders are generally a very proud lot and are unlikely to make it permanent.

One thing I have noticed walking along Marcus Clarke and London Circuit in the city is that people seem to be ‘sick’ along those streets quite a bit. Or has it always been that bad and the cleaning fairies have just stopped cleaning it up?

Erg0 said :

I resent that remark, I take the time every weekend to wax and polish the rusty Camira that’s up on blocks in my front yard.

Surely you meant ‘white commodore’?

Holden Caulfield2:46 pm 10 Mar 11

Hosinator said :

…I for one think it’s because most haven’t had to landscape their property themselves…

Where, or how, did you dream up that crazy idea?!

I resent that remark, I take the time every weekend to wax and polish the rusty Camira that’s up on blocks in my front yard.

Just look at the weeds growing in and around Commonwealth Bridge. Canberra is quite shabby these days both on public and private land.

Canberran’s seem not to care about their lawns, gardens or homes appearance in general.

I for one think it’s because most haven’t had to landscape their property themselves and couldn’t give two sh!ts about the appearance of their homes.

I spent two years landscaping my front and back yard and now have a lot of appreciation for the appearance of my home and I wanted to show some respect to my neighbours and the value of their homes.

as the graffiti in Flynn says;”It’s a Belco world”

My wife and I went for lunch last Sunday at HaHa bar in Belconnen, to celebrate our anniversary. I couldn’t believe the tip that was the area surrounding it, and all of the other shops. Rubbish everywhere – and it looked like it wasn’t just the rubbish from one busy Saturday night, it looked like the area hadn’t been cleaned in a month. It was the first time I’d been to any of the restaurants or bars down there, and it left a pretty bad impression. Certainly not what I’m used to when heading to the shops around Canberra.

trevar said :

Christchurch may be temporarily in that category too, but they’ve got a legitimate excuse…

Is that really necessary?

Actually, just this morning as I was pulling up in Deakin I thought to myself how remarkably clean and tidy the city was.

It’s all about perspective. I grew up in Sydney, so the only cities I’ve been to that are worse than my hometown are Paris, Rome and Los Angeles which are filthy hovels too (they are very pleasant filthy hovels, but they’re filthy hovels nonetheless). Christchurch may be temporarily in that category too, but they’ve got a legitimate excuse…

Even after 13 years living here, Canberra still stands out to me for its cleanliness and order. Unfortunately because it is generally quite clean, it attracts clean freaks for whom no level of cleanliness is ever enough, and I say, suck it up princess! Welcome to life, it’s a messy business!

Yes, I have…gone are the days of regular mowing and tidying of our parks and grassy verges. I think that during the years of drought, the “mowing program” was ditched, in favour of a more reactive method of caring for our green spaces. Now it seems to be scheduled according to the number of calls received by the complaints department of Parks, Conservation and Lands, or in the case of the Commonwealth Avenue area, shortly prior to an event or festival.

noticed the same thing after spending a month in sydney, methinks it has alot to do with the native grasses around here making things look shabby

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