Things have been quiet around the Lyneham Community Association over the Christmas break, but we are back for a hopefully big year of activities to make Lyneham (and north O’Connor) an even more loveable place to live!
However for this to happen we need more people to volunteer to be on the Committee as the few of us here are struggling to keep up with all the things we could be doing around the suburb. Our annual general meeting is coming up soon and we encourage you to get involved. Read on for more information.
Annual General Meeting – new committee members needed!
The AGM of the Lyneham Community Association will be held on Sunday 30 April at 3pm. A number of our current committee members are stepping down so if you want the LCA to continue then please nominate to be on the committee. We particularly need some new office-holders, ie Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. If we are not able to get sufficient people then the LCA may have to close down, which would be a great disappointment. Please email us if you would like more information about being on the committee.
More details of the meeting and the nomination process to follow.
Clean Up Australia Day – Lyneham Wetlands
The LCA will be holding a clean up of the open space around the Lyneham Wetlands on Sunday 5 March as part of Clean Up Australia Day. We will have a registration table between 9 am and 11 am in the park next to Goodwin Street, near the intersection with Fox Place. Gloves and rubbish bags are provided by Clean Up Australia, or BYO. You will need to register for the event to be covered for insurance purposes, either on the day or beforehand at Clean Up Australia. Bring your family and friends and help keep our parks clean!
Working Bee Sunday 26 February, 9.30 to 11 am, near Earle Street
The Magpie Hill rejuvenation project continues, with the Friends of Magpie Hill now holding working bees generally on the last Sunday of each month.
Most of the work is focussed on weeding and regenerating the no-mow area between the basketball court and Earle Street. We would also like to revitalise the picnic table here and do more erosion control.
Anyone is welcome to join us for the next working bee from 9.30 am on Sunday 26 February. To participate in Park Care activities you are required to register your attendance (this will also give you insurance cover for any accidents). Please RSVP by emailing us at magpiehill@lyneham.org.au. You can also let us know if you would like to be added to the separate Magpie Hill mailing list.
North Lyneham park regeneration project
We are also looking for more volunteers to help implement our tree planting project in three neighbourhood parks in North Lyneham for which we received an ACT Government grant. If you are interested please email the committee.
A group of local residents has already started to weed and regenerate the park on Goodchild Street. If you would like to join them, let us know and we will put you in touch with the organisers.
Friends of Dryandra Woodland – working party Saturday 25th February 1.30 to 4.30 pm
There’s even more parkcare activities happening round our suburb! Friends of Dryandra Woodland have been restoring the patch of bush between Dryandra Street and Barry Drive and are now extending their work to O’Connor Ridge. On the 25th they will be cutting out woody weeds in the creek line between Bruce and O’Connor Ridges. Contact Jamieif you are interested.
Concerns around BCC car park
The Brindabella Christian College car park remains a concern for the LCA. Cars cross over the Brigalow St footpath to enter the car park when the footpath is busy with students and families from both schools. The Lyneham Community have been working to ensure that the car park development is investigated and brought up to ACT design standards, codes, guidelines and legislation.
As a result of our lobbying, a new pedestrian crossing was marked at the entrance to the carpark but it is not up to the required standard and children still have to weave around cars to walk and ride along the footpath.
We continue to seek a response from the Government regarding an assessment of the car park and an opportunity for community consultation. The LCA has also been investigating the original contruction of the carpark which appears to have been done without development approval on public recreation land that is not zoned for carparks. We have submitted a request to the ACT government to uphold the ACT Planning Legislation and sort out the poor planning and enforcement surrounding this carpark.
Please reach out if you would like to get involved or help in any way.
Would you like to help Lyneham kids learn to ride?
The LCA are working on a project to help local kids build their bike riding skills and learn to ride. Part of this will include working with Pedal Power to facilitate the ‘Big Skills Small Bikes’ (BSSB) sessions in Lyneham. We are seeking volunteers from the community who’d like to the complete the training required to facilitate some of these sessions in the future.
Details: The training course is called ‘Foundation and Community Instructor’, completed through AusCycling. The date next course date is 26thMarch 2023. Pedal Power will cover the costs of the training, as well as paying for First Aid Certificate training and a Working With Vulnerable People Card (WWVP) if you don’t already have these. In return, Pedal Power are asking that you volunteer to run two BSSB courses as volunteers. (This involves volunteering a couple of hours per day over a 5-day school holiday block or after school one day per week for 5 weeks). After these two courses, Pedal Power would provide a small stipend for any further course you help to facilitate. Please email usif you are interested.
Join the ‘Bike Bus’ for your morning commute Come and join the bike bus on your commute from the northside. The ‘Bike Bus’ rolls through Lyneham every Wednesday and Monday from 7:30am. The bus is hosted by ‘Canberra By Bike’, and starts from Southwell Park in North Lyneham and heads to the Parliamentary Triangle and Forrest. All are welcome to join. The ride aims to help people gain confidence and motivation to cycle to work with a bunch of like-minded people. Follow the link for more information.
Comments sought on the New Territory Plan and District Strategies As part of its reform to the ACT’s planning system, the ACT Government has released a draft update of the Territory Plan and new District Strategies to guide future development in Canberra. Lyneham is covered under the Inner North and City District Strategy. The public comment period closes on 3 March 2023. Further details are on the YourSay website.
Gazebo and table for loan
If you’re holding a social or community event and need an 3m x 3m portable gazebo or 2m long folding table, LCA now have them for short-term loan to members.
Just send an email to contact@lyneham.org.au with your dates a week or two in advance. There is no charge but a refundable bond of $50 will be required.
New members
We love new members, and want even more! Please encourage your local friends and neighbours to join. The more members we have, the more support we can provide each other and the more attention we can get from our politicians.
Joining is free and open to everyone over 16 years of age, living in Lyneham or north O’Connor. Join online at lyneham.org.au/join.
