March 2022

Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Lyneham Community Association.

The safety of children is paramount in any community. We urge you to consider the matter explained below, and hope you support the associated petition to get some government action to improve the issue.

Welcome

A warm welcome to Kate Bradney, who joins the committee to fill a casual vacancy. Kate brings a lot of energy a fresh ideas, having been an enthusiastic contributor to earlier LCA activities.

We also welcome our new LCA members who have joined in the last few weeks. We look forward to hearing your views, and meeting you at events in the local area.

SAFETY AROUND SCHOOLS IN LYNEHAM

Brigalow Street in Lyneham is a busy route for students walking or cycling to school. The photo above shows the makeshift pedestrian crossing at the entrance to the car park next to Brindabella Christian College (BCC). Children (from both BCC and Lyneham Primary) attempt to cross the entrance at the same time as cars attempt to enter and exit the car park during the busy period just before school commences.

A current petition in the ACT Legislative Assembly seeks to have traffic in the area properly assessed, with a view to facilitating safer pedestrian and cycling access.

You can access the petition here: https://epetitions.act.gov.au/CurrentEPetition.aspx…

We encourage you to sign the petition.

Locations for new trees

The ACT Government has pledged to plant 54,000 trees by 2023-24 to enhance our urban forest. If you think there is some street or open space near you where there aren’t many trees or where existing trees are ageing or dying then please tell the Government the location via this map.

If a tree on public land has fallen down or it has dropped branches and it needs to be cleared then please call the Access Canberra Contact Centre on 132281 or report on Fix my Street

You can also use these contact details to report abandoned shopping trolleys.

ACT Heritage Festival: A reminder

This year’s ACT Heritage Festival will see the launch of the LCA’s Lyneham and North O’Connor Heritage Trail. You’re invited to come along to the unveiling of the local Community Map and to follow the trail through Lyneham and O’Connor’s key features.

The Community Map and Heritage Trail are the product of an LCA project, supported by funding made available by the ACT Government under the ACT Heritage Grants Program.

Two free guided walks!

10 Apr 2-4.30pm – including the “official launch” of the wayfinding map

Starting at Lyneham Shops, Wattle St 

Discover secrets and stories about Lyneham and O’Connor’s past.  Follow the Lyneham and North O’Connor Heritage Trail (south section) to discover why the 1984 opening of Tilley’s provoked controversy, why the Banksia Street wetland is where it is and be introduced to Jan Jandura Pucek.

24 Apr 2-4.30pm 

Starting from St Ninian’s Church, Brigalow St, Lyneham 

Discover secrets and stories about Lyneham’s past.  Follow the Lyneham and North O’Connor Heritage Trail (north section) to learn about Lyneham’s 1873 school, find out where ‘Upper Canberra’ was and be introduced to ‘Big Pete’ Shumack. 

LCA AGM: a reminder

Sunday 1 May

The AGM of the LCA will be held in the afternoon of Sunday 1 May. Details of the time and venue will be announced in the coming months.

We’re excited to have organised a special guest speaker for the event. Nick Fejer, chair of SolarShare, will discuss community involvement in solar energy.

Please consider joining the committee.

The LCA relies on volunteers to keep operating. While we have a vibrant and friendly committee, we need new ideas and new people. Some of our committee will not be standing for re-election, so now is a good time for others to step forward.

The LCA has become known for its community-building activities (Light Up Lyneham, Photo Competition and the Clean Up Australia events are easy examples), as well as for its list of funded projects over the years to improve the local area. With strong links to the North Canberra Community Council (NCCC), the LCA is well-placed to further the interests of the residents of Lyneham and North O’Connor.

To continue LCA’s range of activities, we need some of you to put your hands up to help.

Your involvement doesn’t have to be onerous. The committee meets most months, for about an hour and a half. Email us at contact@lyneham.org.au with any questions.

        Working Bees        

Join the Lyneham Commons group at their working bee on the first Sunday of each month. See their Facebook page for details.

For other working bee opportunities, check the Banksia St Wetlands group Facebook page.

Gazebo and table for loan     

If you’re holding a social or community event and need an 3mx3m portable gazebo or 2m long folding table, LCA now have them for short-term loan to members.

Just contact us with your dates. To avoid disappointment it’s probably best to arrange a week or two in advance. There is no charge but a refundable bond will be required.

New Members

We love new members, and want even more!

So we’re asking you to encourage your 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 local 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.