e- Mag

The Belconnen e-Mag - the online voice of Belconnen

The eMag is open to you, we welcome your contributions such as articles, opinion, stories, photos, videos, anything that can be replicated on the web, provided it meets legal requirements of the Australian Capital Territory and Australian Governments.

To submit your contribution to the Belconnen e-Mag Editor click here!

Interstate visitor shocked by untidy Emu Bank

Recently I was in the Emu Bank area with a school excursion. It was a Thursday night and we took the students there so they could get some dinner and eat next to the lake.

I wandered around the foreshore and shops and began to notice just how untidy the area is. This could be a really beautiful area but it is one I will probably never go to again. The garden beds were overgrown with weeds dead and alive, the footpaths were covered in gravel that had been slowly invading the surfaces. Trees were overgrowing pathways, obstructing passage. Trees have taken a foothold in the lake foreshore retaining walls and will undermine them if not removed. Rubbish from the take away outlets was littered everywhere and had been there for weeks. Leaves from the trees, dirt and rubbish and cigarette butts were built up against the walls and seating. There is a lack of rubbish bins.

It is apparent that council workers do not frequent the area, pick up rubbish, do any landscape maintenance or sweeping of pathways. It is also apparent that shopkeepers are happy to have their containers fouling the area, not to mention the waterways.

I notice there are new shops awaiting tenants. If I were a business I would be turned off by the obvious lack of pride in this area.

Frank Ward

Note: Most ACT people are a bit concerned about Canberra's appearance, The ACT Government is spending more and more to deal with excessive weed growth due to record rainfalls so what can be done? Maybe we need community action groups like clean up Australia to do some of this tidying up. Many of us own mowers and whippersnippers so why not get together and clean up. Perhaps Lions or Rotary could organise such a group, what do you think?

Contact the Webmaster with your view

Belconnen’s underbelly

Crime and policing are often discussed, usually in the context of it being rampant and increasing. How does Belconnen fare? The Australian Federal Police publish statistics on crime on a monthly basis on their web site http://www.police.act.gov.au/community-safety.aspx

The table below looks at crime data by offence (homicide is not included as according to police statisticians the numbers are too small) for areas of Belconnen. The figures are only for one month (May) and could be different if another month were analysed.

Crime in Belconnen May 2010

Belconnen Town Centre would appear to be the most crime afflicted, but it is a town centre with places of entertainment and commercial activity. Of the residential suburbs Zone 5 (South east Belconnen) seems to have the worst record, especially in terms of burglary and theft.

How does Belconnen compare with other parts of the ACT, Australia and the world?

Statistics on crime are difficult and there appears to be limited data for Australia that can be compared to these. However, the table below looks at other parts of the ACT.

Crime in other parts of the ACT May 2010

Firstly, Belconnen Town Centre does better than Civic, which has a crime over double that of Belconnen Town centre. Only Palmerston in Gungahlin has a better record than all areas in Belconnen.

Again these statistics only cover one month. A better perspective would be to look at a year.

In terms of national comparisons ABS publication 4519.0: Recorded Crime - Offenders 2008-09

The ABS states:

“For the 2008-09 reference period, New South Wales accounted for 30% (103,853) of the Australian offender population aged 10 years and over, followed by Queensland (24% or 83,806) and Victoria (16% or 53,605). The Australian Capital Territory recorded the lowest number of offenders (1% or 3,337) and was the only jurisdiction to record a decrease (1%) in the total number of offenders from 2007-08.

The Northern Territory had the highest offender rate in 2008-09 with 4,832 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over, and recorded the largest increase in the offender rate from 2007-08 (an increase of 540 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over). The lowest offender rate was recorded in the Australian Capital Territory with a rate of 1,096 offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over.”

This measures offenders whereas the local data above measures offences.

So do we need to worry about crime? Well that other statement is quite apt “be alert, not alarmed”.

Terry Giesecke

Canberra Media Research

2006 Census

The median age has increased to 34.0 years from 31,8 years, and in 2006 9.3 per cent of the population was 65 and over compared to 7.4 per cent in 2001.

The population increased by 2.6 per cent (0.5 per cent per year) to 84,382.

Catholics are the most numerous religious group but over 23 per cent claimed to have no religion at all. To see data Discover Belconnen

*What is a median? It divides a data set in two, as the median strip divides a road. One half the values are below it and one half above.

Like dogs? Want make a practical contribution to the welfare of hundreds of dogs in the ACT? More click here

A second chance for dogs by Domestic animal service

Belconnen Arts Centre welcomes Jon Stanhope as its first Patron

Members of the media are invited to attend the announcement by Evol McLeod, Chair Belconnen Arts Centre Inc. of the first Patron, Mr Jon Stanhope, Belconnen resident, and former Chief Minister and Minister for the Arts.

Jon Stanhope has a great love and commitment to the arts in Canberra and together with his MLA colleagues was instrumental in realising the Belconnen dream of an Arts Centre serving the whole community of the region.

Jon Stanhope said “ I am delighted and honoured to continue my association with Belconnen Arts Centre as patron. I have a deep interest in the arts sector and the Arts Centre is at the heart of Belconnen where I have lived with my family for almost 40 years. This is one way in which I hope to help continue to support the arts in this region and for the whole of Canberra.”

“We believe Jon Stanhope has made a significant commitment to the Arts Centre and our community by agreeing to accept the position of patron. His passion and advocacy for the arts is widely recognised and he will be a terrific champion for our work in developing the Centre and forging links and partnerships with the wider community.
The Board and staff are delighted to welcome him into this new role with the organisation”.

Belconnen Community Arts Centre now 1 year old

For details on the new Belconnen Arts Centre (expressions of interest, hiring charges and what spaces will be available for hire) go to the What's on page

Today's new poetry

Flaming fools Click here to experience

Washing line - a hot new e-Poem by Maria Josey (click on image to access)

TravelSmart

The TravelSmart - Belconnen project is a large-scale Voluntary Travel Behaviour Change Project intended to encourage the use of healthier, more sustainable transport modes. read more....

Belconnen Community Service Newsletter

Keep up to date with Belconnen read the BCS Newsletter by clicking here This link will require Adobe Reader, if you don't have it you can obtain it free from Adobe www.adobe.com Also it's a big document so if you have a slow connection you'd better make a cup of tea or coffee to drink while you wait!

Latin Dance the new sensation - black is the new black

Latin rhythms have always evoked notions of exotica and fun. 1930's band leader Xavier Cugat put Latin sound into the popular idiom, the sixties saw the Bossa nova come and go and in the nineties it was the Lambada. In the new century Latin dance is more popular than ever. Read more.

Hazel's travel adventures, now including Scandinavia, the UK and the Balkins.

Mixed views on Canberra's population future

The poll conducted over the last few months on Canberra's future population has returned mixed results.

Should the ACT's population be allowed to grow at an unlimited rate ?

Yes 27%

No 73%

Should the ACT's population be capped?

Yes 50%

No 50%

If so what should it be by 2020?

400,000 77%

500,000 23%

Do you support infill such as that proposed for the Hawker shopping centre?

Yes 52%

No 48%

Some interesting results. Most do not want unlimited population growth but are evenly divided on actually capping population. Given choice most think 400,000 by 2020 is preferable to 500,000. As the population is now around 350,000 a population of 400,000 in 2020 would require annual growth of 1.7 per cent each year from now to 2020, a quite high figure.

Infill such as that proposed for Hawker also received slight majority support.

Any Other comments?

The ACT government and its agencies such as ACTPLA should not be working at the behest of developers keen only to line their pockets but behalf of the community at large. Most developers - large and small - do not live in the sorts of develops they foist upon others and have the gall to criticise others as acting only out of self-interest. The standards currently in place are iniquitous and the bias towards profit over all other considerations should be halted.

The developments should be in keeping with the current suburban amenity of the area. Projects like Jamison Space will put added pressure on current parking availability. It will also be too high and will 'hem in' Jamison Plaza. Large trees are going to be removed to accommodate the development. Residents are tired of their environment being captive to monied interests. A more modest scale development would be more appropriate.

A stable ACT population would avoid the need for either greater infill or urban sprawl. The question needs to be asked (and answered honestly)What is to be gained from continued growth and who really benefits.

I think population capping is a very difficult thing to achieve but we should not be spending millions on attracting foreign skilled workers to the city.
A population of 400,000 is too high - Canberra had better amenity when we had a population of 300,000. Many of us came here to get away from overcrowded cities. Population growth drives urban infill and sprawl, as well as congestion. Stop population growth now.

Infill is preferable to green fields development but with a stable population, no growth, no infill development is needed only constant renewal with senesence of infrastructure and changed uses

Any further growth should be centred around town centres or along major transport routes such as Northbourne Avenue.

No ACT politician is brave enough to stand up against those who profit from population growth. The rest of us have to put up with the consequences of growth.

To let population increase is suicidal

Born & partly raised in my beloved Canberra. I lived in Melbourne for 15 years & watch it struggle with over development, overpopulation & increase in pollution(traffic, noise, rubbish etc)Now returning home to Canberra so natural, tidy, opened.

I believe in progress but increasing population is not the answer, invest in our environment & teach&sustain better harmony between man/city & nature

Note: As this is not a scientifically conducted poll the results cannot be taken seriously

The poll for this month concerns Entertainment and recreationalissues to access poll click here

Don't forget you can suggest poll topics contact the Webmaster

Water everywhere!

The swollen Murrumbidgee just past the LMWQCC after recent ACT rains

Migration Issues

‘Temporary visa holders face uncertain future’, writes Nicholas Houston of VisAustralia

Skilled workers employed by Canberra companies on temporary work visas (Subclass 457 visas) are facing an uncertain future. The current economic downturn is giving rise to a fear that these workers could lose their jobs and with it their right to remain in Australia.

The Subclass 457 visa allows Australian companies to employ overseas workers for a period of between three months and four years. Skilled workers can bring in family members including children who are enrolled in local Canberra schools.

In the boom years the Subclass 457 visa was an ideal way for local companies to employ people with skills that could not be found locally. In tough times these same workers are left vulnerable to the loss of their employment.

If a company ends the employment relationship the employee is given 28 days to leave Australia or to find another sponsor and apply for another visa.

The 28 day period can have an immediate and catastrophic impact on the visa holder and family members. For example, children enrolled in local schools could be compelled to leave the school within 28 days of their mother or father losing their job. Further, because the work rights of a spouse are dependent on the primary visa holder, when the primary visa holder is made redundant the spouse effectively loses their job - and a local employer loses a valuable staff member.

Where to go for assistance?

Canberra based VisAustralia International has been assisting skilled people apply to migrate for many years. It has also been assisting overseas students apply for permanent residence after completing their studies and advising Australian families who want to sponsor family members to migrate to Australia from overseas.

Tel: 6281 5941
Or email.
info@visaustralia.com www.visaustralia.com

‘New migration pathways facilitate family sponsorship’, writes Nicholas Houston of VisAustralia

The migration pathway – what is it?

Recent changes to the Migration Regulations allow people to actively support family members to migrate to Australia. Overseas family members do not need to have qualifications, work experience, or speak English to start on the migration pathway.

The migration pathway for family sponsorship is a new feature of the Australian migration program. To access the pathway involves supporting a family member through two years of study in Australia and then in sponsoring them for the skilled visa at the end of the studies.

The pathway arises as an implication of changes made to the visa rules and is a by-product of the growth of the international education industry.

The migration pathway opens the way for local Canberra families to support family members under the age of 45 years migrate from their home country to Australia.

Support Asian Women's Friendship Association

The Support Asian Women's Friendship Association is a women's organisation, which provides support and assistance to cultural and linguistically diverse background women. To find out more click here

e-Poems by Anonymous

Crime Stoppers toll-free on 1800 333 000