To mark the 30th anniversary of “CityNews”, social historian and journalist NICHOLE OVERALL has written an eclectic history of Canberra and beyond over the past three decades. Here is 2000.
“THE quality of life in Canberra is good, but it could also be better,” says the chief minister who’s been at the helm for five years, reciting the “first ever ‘State of the Territory’ report”.
“Future Canberra” though, is on its way, and CM Kate Carnell crows: “Canberra is the Clever City”.
“The World Wide Wait will be a thing of the past”.
Boasting “the highest number of computers and internet connections per capita… Canberra residents will be the first in the world to access this next evolution of the internet… with TransACT’s broadband cable installation throughout the capital”.
Tech revolution notwithstanding: “From the first broadcast in 1923, Australians have had a long love affair with radio”, pointed out Susan Oliver, Chair of the newly renamed ScreenSound.
“This is 2CA Canberra operated by A J Ryan Broadcasters Limited. Operating on a wavelength of 286 metres” – so introduces Canberra’s first broadcaster, Jack Ryan, in 1931.
“At 7am on Friday, 31 October 1975, Canberra’s ‘long overdue and ‘long awaited’ second commercial radio station 2CC began broadcasting”. Twenty-five years on, having evolved to keep pace with 106.3 and 104.7 FM (1988), “playing to its strength with more talk”.
“A structure which has stood the test of time and continues to not only play a functional role but adds to Canberra’s heritage as a cultural symbol”, the Carillon, a 1970 gift from Britain for the capital’s Golden Jubilee, gets a 25-year award from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
“A circus-style, black Big Top… a world first for major touring productions” – the “CATS” spectacle comes to town (a day-and-a-half set up, 150 crew, seating up to 2000).
“ACTEW & AGL finalise partnership – New $800 million company for the ACT”.
“Combining electricity and gas network and retail operations, together with interests in water and sewerage services management”.
“The ACT government was already taking action to avoid the scenarios” says ACT Urban Services Minister Brendan Smyth on a CSIRO global warming study.
“Do they want to retain the option of resuming your land or do they just want to tax you to renew a lease on what you thought you already owned?” – not a question on Calvary Hospital’s current position but “CityNews” political commentator Jane Lee on the local opposition failing to amend Canberra’s “archaic” (1913) leasehold laws.
“Sections of the ALP and various other weirdos like to lecture citizens of the ACT that it … somehow makes planning easier”.
“The 120-year-old mahogany bar is a feature.”
Over where you can own your land, the historic (and haunted), now boutique Bungendore Carrington Inn (1885) is up for sale.
“Vivian Bullwinkel, Australian nurse, war hero, legend.”
Sole survivor of the World War II Bangka Island Massacre of 21 Army nurses, passes away at 84.
But in the blockbuster news of 2000 …
The Torch being relayed to Canberra as part of the upcoming Sydney Olympics isn’t the only local heat.
CM Kate (never “Katy”) has been feeling the burn on many fronts, including preparations to host upcoming Olympic football events.
“Despite the fortune spent by the ACT government… the [Feel the Power of Canberra] theme seemed to be more about the ego of Canberrans and their funny little Government”.
“Attitudes towards the proposed heroin trial are overwhelmingly negative”.
“The relentless pursuit of expenditure of public money on edifices from which few will benefit and of the pretence of public consultation in progressing developments whose public benefits have not been proven”.
“The coronial inquiry into the Canberra hospital implosion reported the Government had turned the implosion into a ‘public circus’… resulting in the largest crowd in Canberra’s history, in excess of 100,000. The coroner found that the Government had been cavalier in its attitude to the warnings”.
And the “Bruce Stadium fiasco”.
“Carnell went back to the Assembly for approval for an extra $27 million after maintaining previously that the taxpayer contribution to the upgrade would be capped at $12 million”.
The project ultimately cost $82 million.
And so despite that glowing headline of only two months ago, before a no-confidence motion gets up, “Clever Kate” makes her exit from “Clever Canberra”.
The full collection of Nichole Overall’s “CityNews” anniversary columns can be seen here.
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