October 2024 Newsletter

We’re looking for your ideas about a new community event or project for Lyneham and north O’Connor. We’d like to build on the success of Light Up Lyneham, and with something completely different. We’re thinking a daytime event, probably around March, and something that would attract people across the whole community.

The LCA committee has brainstormed some ideas, including (a) come and find your next hobby/activity day, (b) installing nesting boxes, (c) facilitating the opportunity for young people to meet face to face, (d) a suitcase rummage, (e) photo competition, (f) decorate your street competition, (g) heritage trail guided walk, (h) art&craft festival, (i) art inspired by your street’s artist namesake, and (j) recording local history.

What project or event would you like to see? Send us your thoughts at contact@lyneham.org.au. Even better if you’d like to help make your idea a reality.

Brindabella Christian College

The next directions hearing in the Supreme Court on BCC’s appeal against the ACAT order last year to close its illegal carpark is on 31 October. At that hearing we may finally know when the actual appeal will be heard! Unfortunately it is likely to be as late as February or March next year.You may also have seen a number of recent articles in the Canberra Times or Riotact about various regulatory actions being taken against the BCC and the history of unpaid debts and court cases involving its Chair.

With the ACT election happening right now, it is very pleasing to see at least one party, the ACT Greens, making a commitment to address concerns about BCC. Noting that the school is currently subject to regulatory action by the Minister for Education, the ACT Greens will also seek to establish a cross-Directorate Taskforce to address issues that arise beyond the narrower issues of School Registration. This will be designed to ensure the College is suitably addressing welfare of students and staff, their role as a neighbour, and their compliance with a range of traffic and planning conditions.

We have not seen any specific mentions of BCC by other parties or independents but if they have released policies regarding the BCC then please let us know!

The LCA is in need of storage!

We’re looking for somewhere to store the many items we use from year to year for occasions like Light Up Lyneham (wetlands displays, equipment, etc), and other miscellaneous items.If you’ve got a reasonable sized garden shed you no longer need, and would be willing to donate to the LCA, please get in touch at contact@lyneham.org.au. We’ll arrange to relocate it to somewhere suitable.

Do you know you can report any issues in the neighborhood to the ACT Government’s Fix My Street page online? Issues and concerns such as: damaged or blocked paths, request tree planting, reporting graffiti and litter etc. Go to https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/city-services/fix-my-street

Help regenerate our local parks

The Friends of Magpie Hill holds monthly working bees to regenerate this iconic local landmark. The group was recently awarded a substantial ACT Government adopt-a-park grant for erosion control in the park, focusing on the informal path between Wattle and Lambert Streets which has become very eroded in the last few wet years. For more information and to be added to our mailing please email magpiehill@lyneham.org.au.
Anyone is welcome to join our monthly working bees.

Bird Walk and Talk

Sunday 27 October, 10 am to 12 noon

The Friends of Magpie Hill are lucky to have Neil Hermes from the Canberra Ornithologists Group leading this walk and talk supported by an ACT Environmental Volunteer Assist Grant. Neil is a passionate Canberra-based ornithologist, author and science communicator. Neil will take us through the park talking about the birds we might see, their habits and habitats. He will also discuss ways we might encourage birds in our park and gardens. If you would like to know more about Neil’s passion for birds check out his website (https://neilhermes.com.au/).

North Lyneham park regeneration project

Thanks to those people who helped make significant progress with this project. Lots of mulch, plants and hard work has recently gone into rejuvenating the garden beds in the neighbourhood park on Goodchild Street.
We still need more assistance for planting in the parks on Cossington Smith Crescent before our ACT Government grant runs out. If you can help then please email contact@lyneham.org.au

Lyneham Commons
Working Bees are held at Lyneham Commons on the first Sunday of the month. Tasks may include: weeding and clearing, planting some ground cover type plants, mulching paths, pruning wattles and other trees. For more information email lyneham.commons@gmail.com 

Gazebo and table for loan

If you’re holding a social or community event and need a 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 (north of Macarthur Avenue). Join online at lyneham.org.au/join.

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