All posts by Paul Costigan
Three Ministers and a Parkland
A week or so ago the ACT Planning Minister announced that the government was open for consultations on the Dickson Parklands (Section 72 to the bureaucrats).
NCDC in context
Often when posting on planning and development in Canberra, someone will comment that things were so much better when the Commonwealth, through the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) ran the joint.
Mary Gauthier
Singapore
Views of Singapore 2018
A small selection of photographs from wandering around this wonderful complex city.
Mary Gauthier
Dickson Residents Group
Update from Jane Goffman
Here’s Jane’s January 31 2018 update on goings on with planning and developments around Dickson:
ABC heritage under attack
Being Turnbulled
Northbourne Avenue
A new year and already the look, the aesthetics, and the whole nature of what will be the new Northbourne Ave gateway to the National Capital is up for discussion.
Bad design spreads like a disease
My post last week on the lack of good design and planning that is evident in the more recent parts of Gungahlin definitely caught a lot of people’s attention.
Gungahlin – urgent climate adaptation required
A couple of weeks ago I wrote on the threats to biodiversity caused through inappropriate developments across Canberra.
Continue reading Gungahlin – urgent climate adaptation required
Respect and Responsibility in planning and development
Someone needs to ask the ACT Planning Minister why the planning directorate continues to encourage local residents to form residents’ associations to oppose inappropriate developments.
Continue reading Respect and Responsibility in planning and development
Put landscape and biodiversity first
This post starts with being in front of our house at 6.15 am listening to the cacophony of sounds coming from what must have been a rowdy Christmas Day gathering of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos at end of the street (near the Dickson Drain).
being turnbulled
Social Housing vs community spaces
With Canberra having such an informed and aware community, one would have thought that a community-focused government planning minister would have surfaced by now – one being committed to development and the future growth of the city while simultaneously embracing the enhancement of (rather than reducing) the city’s amenities that are admired internationally.
equity and talent in cabinet
Mythomania Peter Conrad
Recommended Reading
Mythomania: Tales of Our Times from Apple to ISIS – by Peter Conrad, Thames and Hudson
Several years ago I had listened to most of Peter Conrad’s BBC podcasts on his topic of Myths – and loved them.
I have read just a little of this book so far – but can say that it as good as if not better than listening to the podcasts of Peter’s broadcasts. It is now part of my reading for the next weeks. And there are new topics covered.
Problems with school parking
Comments have been published about how Deakin residents have raised doubts about the development application for a 102-bed aged care facility on the former gallery site near the shopping centre.
Government and religion
In Australia we have a small band of conservatives who work tirelessly to have their brands of religion have a greater influence on government and the country’s laws.
Luckily till now they are more of less not so successful – well most of the time.
In their last round of attempts to achieve more religious freedoms (whatever that meant) – what would have been more applicable would have been to remove religion and the influence of such religious fundamentalists completely from the workings of government.
Meanwhile in a land not far away – things are going from bad to worse.
Click here for the story in the Guardian.
Christmas Puddings and Mince Pies
I am not sure when my desire for mince pies and Christmas cakes and puddings started.
Neil Young
Neil Young’s entire catalog is available to stream for free on his newly launched archival website. Wow!!! – Thanks Neil
Dear Minister for Town Cramming
Why are we so unfortunate here in Canberra to have a string of planning and urban development ministers who feel that it is their duty to say something regularly to upset those who enjoy a fantastic ambience within inner Canberra?
Gardeners at war with possums
This story starts with standing outside the Museum of Sydney taking in an outdoor display of a cottage garden – complete with vegetables and herbs.
The ACT Government allows planners to plan
Surprising things can happen when you are involved in advocacy with the ACT Government on urban environment issues.
How women dress
Pedestrians be aware – be very aware!
Life for pedestrians in Dickson is not as safe as it should be. Here’s a few events to illustrate my point.
Marea Fatseas and Community Councils
The 2016 ACT election was just over 12 months ago (how time flies) and the hot election topics back then included planning, development, community engagement and a host of issues around the ACT Government’s dealings with residents.
Floriade – time for change
It has been many years since I have wandered amongst the tulips of Floriade.
Dickson auctions
Just months ago a Luton’s auctioneer stated that the property going under the hammer was the only house for sale in Dickson.
Danger to dogs from the ACT Government
Some issues just do not go away. Dogs that are dangerous or potentially dangerous is such a topic.
Tom Petty
Robert Plant
Thanks for Flu
Here’s a message from me – and the many others who suffered through the flu recently:
This goes out to those thoughtful people who insisted on going out into public areas when they had the flu.
Midnight Oil
Selling off the Parliamentary Triangle
for Wednesday 27th
There’s nothing new about governments across Australia selling of assets, infrastructure, land, buildings or anything that they can put on the market to make instant cash.
Urban Destruction in Canberra
Federal COALition
we are being Turnbulled – over and over again.
Same old spin in new clothes
There is no doubt that the spin doctors within the ACT Government worked hard to get journalists to take a positive spin on the establishment of the City Renewal Authority and the appointment of their CEO, Malcolm Snow
architecture and constitution ave
Back in 2013 plans were announced for the next stage of Canberra’s Constitution Avenue.
Dickson house sales
The neighbourhood had their answer. The signs went up – and yet another original style (AV Jennings) house was about to be put on the market.
A WORD or TWO on Facebook
Check out links to news from our Facebook page.. click here
politicians lie
Canberra Regional Farmers Market
There are many reasons why people trek out to the Canberra Regional Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Michael Leunig
contracts for buying an apartment
When I was first alerted to the issues below – sadly my response was: Why am I not surprised?
George Monbiot
Cultural Landscape
The Cultural Landscape Foundation wants to connect people to the places of culture around them. click here
Randy Newman
A review of Dark Matter – click here.
Bill shorten on equality
Bill Shorten unleashes on Turnbull
Welcome Bill Shorten, the next Prime Minister of Australia
Cascadia subduction zone
Maybe not going to Portland for a holiday – with this disaster waiting to happen.
despots galore
alternative facts
journalism
no way to treat a coffee
draft 9 August
There’s been an increase in conversations about avoiding the use of plasticized mugs for take away coffee.
David Marr on equality
iGen and depression
culture, arts and city planning
Randy Newman
backyards
Vanishing Australian backyards
leave us vulnerable to the stresses of city life
Being Turnbulled
Australia has been Turnbulled yet again – click here
being Trumped & being Turnbulled
the Dutch Reach
trump
a Telstra NBN story
Another mess made by Malcolm Turnbull
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154819656957544&set=p.10154819656957544&type=3
architecture
“Call us dull, call us sellouts, call us gentrifiers – just don’t call us copycats”
Our lust for originality is wrecking the city, delivering a rash of formally new but ultimately anti-urban hideous skyline baubles reducing city-making to a spectacle of super-size billboard branding gestures while inhibiting the multiplication of good ideas. Click here
post-truth planning
Dr Elizabeth Farrelly is outraged
Dr Elizabeth Farrelly sets the scene for how planning might navigate the post-truth political landscape – click here.
Will your house burn?
As I watched the horrifying footage of the London Grenfell Tower fire, I remarked that this is what could have happened in Docklands, Melbourne, in 2014.
Populism
Populism now divides, yet once it united the working class
The words populism and populist have no simple, coherent meaning.
architecture
Good article by Miguel Córdova Ramírez on the teaching of architecture.
Architecture
Architecture and all that spin
If there is one occupation that I could not imagine doing, it is being an ACT Government planner who spends most of the day looking through development applications (DA) for commercial developments.
Women in music
A list of women in music – turning the tables; click here
Venice under stress
Click on the image above
Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra
A tour of the good and not-so-good
Have you taken a stroll around the Parliamentary Triangle recently?
ANCA meeting Place exhibition
Walking in on an artist’s install of their exhibition can be an interesting way to learn more about an artist and their work.
Filipino restaurant
Lolo and Lola Filipino restaurant opens in Watson (Canberra)
Justin Townes Earle
Album Review: Justin Townes Earle – Kids in the Street
This is an album I am playing a lot. My rating would be 5/5.
Urban Bites
GANG GANG arrives in Downer
Always good to celebrate when a suburban centre rises again.
K D Lang Ingenue
special 25th anniversary edition
here’s a re-issue of some really beautiful – magnificent music.
All Liberal – all men
click on the image for the story – and wonder which century these people live in?
Neil Young
J J Cale
J J Cale & Eric Clapton: Call me the breeze
post truth & politics & energy
A good article summing up the state of politics, where truth is an option to be discarded.
A WORD or TWO on Facebook
Check out links to news from our Facebook page.. click here
Elizabeth Lee and Dickson Parklands
You will often hear commentators state that politicians are unpopular. I don’t think it as simple as that.
New Poster: Fakewit
Architecture
The Problem Isn’t Architecture, It’s Urban Design
Interesting read – but I think they let the architects off too easily. Click here.
Inequality
What we can learn about fighting inequality from Australia’s convict past
Analysis shows that while land values per acre rose at 2.2% per annum, land rents fell by 0.3% per annum in the 1800s. Powerhouse Museum/Flickr, CC BY-SA
Being Trumped
They marched to demand Congress DO THEIR JOB and remove the President from The White House. click here
Malcolm gets a pay rise
Being Turnbulled again
click on image for the video
George Monbiot
George Monbiot on Brexit – where to now?
click on the image for this very interesting view on Brexit
Places for Children
click on image for article
Wonders of apartment heaven in Zetland
For people who live in the older tree filled suburbs of Canberra, being not only the inner north but also out to west Belconnen and the older parts of Woden, Weston and inner Tuggeranong – I have a holiday experience for you.
moratorium on Tony Abbott
Today Tony Abbott called for a moratorium on wind farms.
Share this if you think it’s time for a moratorium on Tony Abbott.
John Mayall
Fake Trump
Another laugh – well maybe? click on the image for the truth.
NO is NOT enough
New book by Naomi Klein
this is my second post on this book:
here’s a new review of the book on The Guardian – click here
Continue reading NO is NOT enough
Architecture
K D Lang
Randy Newman
Dark Matter – August 4th 2017
Dark Matter, Randy Newman’s first album of new material in nine years, is due August 4 on Nonesuch; vinyl on August 18.
