MARKETS IN THE CANBERRA REGION

Car and bike show on at Thoroughbred Park tomorrow if that's your thing. Gold coin donation for spectators.

Nominally 10-3 but shows in Canberra tend to have a habit of functionally ending well before the posted finish time so maybe aim more for the morning if you can.

What is going on with Canberra real estate?

After too many years of renting and saving, it looks like I might finally be able to buy my first place! Nothing fancy, just a modest 2-3 beddy in Tuggers.

I was anticipating full weekends of open days, dozens of couples, and potential bidding wars with people on a similar limited budget.

Instead, there were only 2 places to look at today, and I was the only person at both (and neither agent was that interested in looking up from their phone).

What's going on? Is there just not much for sale at the moment? Is it the wrong time of year? Have rate rises put buyers off? Are people buying off-market?

I thought this would be exciting, but I'm just confused and deflated.

Hello fellow Canberrans. This may be a weird one.
I am in Northside and NBN has scheduled an install of fibre to the premises between end of this October and end of March next year.

When I called the installer (Ventia) to ask about!The process I was told that they were only allowed to do a direct bury (15cm deep) of the cable without conduits or anything.
When I explained that this is not a great idea and I would very much like to not drive my shovel through the cable accidentally, and so I would prefer a conduit buried deeper, they said I could have that done myself and have it ready for their tech to show up and run the cable inside.
Not an issue, NBN has a guideline and it is easy to follow. No electricians needed. Just follow the Customer Installed Fibre Cable Pathways pdf guide (https://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbn/documents/residential/upgrades/FTTP-cable-pathways-factsheet.pdf.coredownload.pdf).

Except for the fact that the NBN guide recommends I make an appointment with my provider so that one of their techs can come over and advise on the best path from pit to my house before we do any digging.

I call my provider and they say hey no your premises are not eligible for FTTN until end of 2028. I tell them no they are as the stuff is getting installed in the next few months but they kept repeating this.

So I am stuck. Do I have to call NBN directly and ask for one of their tech to come over? Or do I just put conduit in and hope for the best?

Has this happened to any of you? Happy for any advice I can get, thanks!!

Are there any sober communities for people in their 30s? I’m not looking to attend AA meetings. I am looking for groups or events where I can meet other sober people.

I am a middle-aged, white Caucasian male.

Is there somewhere in Canberra that I can do Reformer Pilates classes without feeling judged?

Hi, I’m 29F first home buyer in Canberra. I’ve been looking for seperate title houses and have found one near Belco. The plot size is very big approx 800sqm however the house was built in the 70s. The house has been renovated a bit however the building inspection report came back with some water leakage in the laundry walls and kitchen sink area. The sunroom is not approved. Some of the kitchen cabinets also need to be replaced and there’s no dishwasher. I’m also worried about asbestos. I don’t know how big of an issue this will be. The house is made of timber and is 1 EER…..that is also worrying me. Not only will it need insulation, ill also need to get solar installed and probably a new heating/AC system? I don’t know much about houses so I don’t know if I should take the risk by going for this one or perhaps It’s only scary because I don’t know how it works. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Has been posted before but reposting it cause the old post has been closed down
I’ll start with hogs breath used to go there every year when I was a kid for my birthday only get to go when I’m at the Gold Coast now :(

This is mainly a rant but I'm curious, is anyone else finding it really hard to get back into the working world?

I had to leave my previous job over a year ago to investigate chronic migraines and have still been stuck without a job regardless of how much I try! I've even be getting rejected from casual retail jobs which I have YEARS of experience in :/

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong and am really losing hope (which is causing stress and making my migraines worse so yippie 😂)

If other people are in a similar situation or got any tips, would love to hear from folks :3

Young and Frisky was a go to before they absolutely went to shite and rightfully shut down. No need to spruik El Jannah's fried chicken to me either, I am well acquainted.

PS: Before any prideful territorians jump me, please enjoy Kingsley's to the max but it is not my jam.

Hey all, I have been craving good philly cheese steaks since i moved down to Canberra, does anyone have any good restaurant recs?

Where is the best Chai in CBR?

I’ve been sampling a few from the various grocers on Oatley Court but I want to try more of the best authentic chai (bonus if it’s Northside but I will travel)

How do you quote jobs: phone, site visit or video? And do you offer fixed prices or only hourly? If only hourly, what stops you doing fixed price?
Researching a tool for small operators and would love honest opinions.

Got email saying Wilson are no longer management, effective today (Fri 16 Oct last day). This was relatively cheap inner city day parking. Any idea who is taking over lease?

One of the popular coffee shops in Canberra used to add a 1.39% fee after you tapped your card. This was annoying because it was always after you saw what you thought was the final price.
this has now been removed in line with new requirements.
What they’ve done instead is add 3.44% to the price of the coffee, even after their own credit card fee they paid was halved.
It’s a small first world problem, but it rubs me the wrong way.

We’ve had a long-term dumping problem with (water-drenched!) appliances, other household items (mattresses) and rubbish in Casey near the Marketown and across the arterial road from Gold Creek High School/Nicholls sports ovals.

Access Canberra tells us they will “get to it” eventually. We’ve seen toasters, microwaves and other items like washing machines and even fridges left on the kerbs of about 10-15 addresses in the area, plus things like mattresses on public grass.

Particularly concerned about the clearly water-exposed washing machine you see in the first picture, left on the kerb for 12+ weeks now. We’ve had 7-10 moderately big to big rain showers in that time, plus the very wet air on almost all mornings.

Numerous reports (phone and written) have been made, WITH PHOTOS, to City Services by us and our neighbours about the same core 5-6 addresses in the area.

Nothing is being done, aside from whichever people are brave enough to take a “free” appliance and other items.

Meanwhile, people are now being fined for not picking up dog poo. While I’m against leaving animal waste out, I’d say dumping is still the more egregious act.

has anyone here studied or studying master of pharmacy in UC? how is the class schedule? is it doable to work part-time while studying? tried to research about it but couldn't really find answers 🥹

And do you remember the potato bake on the way out????

hi everyone,
i am visiting a friend in Canberra and unfortunately cannot stay at her place for the night (sharehouse). I am travelling in a van with black out window covers, so can be pretty stealth.

Does anyone know of anywhere i could pull up for one night safely? I can’t seem to find any campgrounds nearby that aren’t ridiculously expensive.

thanks in advance!

Hi, many years ago I used to do business in Belconnen with a place called something like ATP or ATM Computers. They built the best ever PC I have owned for me back in 2015 that has only just retired this year with a flawless service record. They seemed to be a family operation, you ordered with the Mum on a piece of paper in the reception. The price was very reasonable.

They seemed to have gone out of business in the COVID era.

Does anyone have a recommendation in Canberra these days for a brick and mortar computer shop?

Am living in the city on West Row, so Mount Painter is an easy quick drive and one of my favourite weekend hikes. What are other people’s favourite hilltop hikes around Canberra?

From Canberra Times article;

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9368808/tara-cheyne-flags-act-sentencing-law-reform-after-rape-ruling/

Article text below;

ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne says she is prepared to change the law on sentences handed down in the ACT's courts, as the government faces backlash after a convicted teenage rapist avoided jail time.

The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions is also considering an appeal of the 18-month suspended jail sentence.

Ms Cheyne said the government should not be afraid to ask whether sentencing laws struck the right balance between of punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation and community protection.

"We have to earn the confidence victim-survivors should have in our justice system through the way people are treated, the support they receive and the outcomes our system delivers," Ms Cheyne said.

"I am prepared to make changes to sentencing legislation where the evidence supports them."

The ACT Supreme Court this month handed a teenager who pleaded guilty to a rape charge an 18-month prison sentence, suspended upon him entering a good behaviour order. It means the boy will not spend time behind bars.

The then 16-year-old raped a girl he met at a house party last year and "used considerable force in pursuit of his own sexual gratification", Justice Andrew Muller said in a decision published last week.

The boy pleaded guilty in the ACT Children's Court, spent one day in custody and cannot be named because he was a minor at the time.

The charge of sexual intercourse without consent carries a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.

The teenager had moved to Australia about six months before the attack and admitted the rape was his first sexual experience.

In determining the sentence, Justice Muller accepted the teenager's prior lack of sexual experience and "limited insight into societal norms in Australia" reduced his moral culpability.

The judge said his prospects for rehabilitation were "significantly improved" if he was allowed to remain in the community with close supervision.

The Sentencing Act mandates imprisonment for young offenders must be a last record and for the shortest appropriate term.

More than 4400 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Justice Muller to be fired over the rape sentence.

"This decision not only undermines the severity of the crime but also sends a distressing message to other perpetrators - that such actions might only face minimal consequences," the petition said.

A judge can only be removed on the grounds of "misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity" after an extensive process, including a judicial commission inquiry and an Assembly vote.

More than 200 people have also signed a Legislative Assembly petition calling for a public inquiry to examine criminal sentences in the ACT.

" All sexual violence causes profound and lasting harm. Sentences must reflect the gravity of offending, hold offenders accountable and provide meaningful deterrence," the petition said.

"Recent sentencing judgments have prompted concerns about whether wholly suspended prison sentences adequately meet these responsibilities."

The Canberra Liberals on Wednesday said they would push for a review of sentences.

"The Canberra Liberals are extremely aware of the fact that there is a growing disquiet in the community over what's being seen and certainly communicated to us as a series of outcomes from the criminal justice system that are far outside of community expectations," Opposition Leader Mark Parton said.

"Now, that issue has been highlighted in recent months by some very specific cases and we certainly believe that it's time to do something that allows the system to better deliver those outcomes."

The opposition also said it would call on the government to hand power to the Attorney-General to direct the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal "manifestly inadequate" sentences.

The shadow attorney-general, Chiaka Barry, said the director would remain independent but the Liberals' proposal would give the government the power to convey community expectations.

"That's what community expects, that the Attorney-General should be able to issue a direction to the DPP to appeal a matter if the sentence is manifestly inadequate," Ms Barry said.

Ms Cheyne said she would not seek to influence the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether to appeal the sentence handed to the 16-year-old.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that she is considering whether to appeal the sentence. She is working within the statutory timeframe of 28 days to make that decision," Ms Cheyne said in a statement on Wednesday night.