7 March 2014

The Arboretum - a housing estate?

7 March 2014 | By Masquara

Apparently there are to be houses among the trees in the Arboretum? (I just caught a quote on ABC 7.30). The reporter said “among” the trees – did he mean “an estate next to” the Arboretum? Surely the Arboretum isn’t going to have houses actually within its treed area? If so, well, was that Jon Stanhope exceeding his PB on dodgy developer deals? Does anyone have the facts?

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dungfungus11:58 am 07 Oct 14

Pork Hunt said :

dungfungus said :

It was reported in the Canberra time yesterday (Sunday of a long weekend is a great time to sneak in a story that is going to impact on ratepayers without their approval) that even more money is to be spent at the arboretum which is fast becoming a bottomless pit for some unelected people to waste money on.
The principal item on the agenda is a second access road (should have been in place from day one) and links into roads in adjoining residential suburbs under development.
Hmmm, I’m looking at the title of this thread again.
Also on the agenda are new walkways and bike paths, landscaping around the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, rocky knolls, more options for cafes/food, canopy walks and a water feature for Central Valley”.
This is really tacky “theme park” sort of stuff.
But wait!!!!
No mention of more trees which is what an arboretum is supposed to be about.
This PPP (Personal Pet Project) is now rivalling the light rail as Canberra’s greatest folly.
The initiatives, including the proposed second entrance, will be subject to funding in the ACT Budget.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/new-entrance-proposed-at-national-arboretum-canberra-to-ease-congestion-20141004-10q875.html#ixzz3FLVEhOpo

Dungers, I have a serious question. On this forum you constantly shoot down people and ideas regardless of the subject being discussed.
My question is: do you like anything? Just one thing will do, no source required. Thanks in advance.

When you have travelled the roads of life that I have travelled you learn what is right and what is wrong.
There are good ideas and bad ideas which sometimes lead to good and bad outcomes.
For example, in the latest comment I have made on this thread I specifically said the second arboretum entrance should have been put in when the project was initiated. I had mentioned this on earlier threads. That was a good idea which I liked so please tell me where I have “shot that one down”.
Likewise, I have not bagged anyone my comment and the only people I have mentioned are ratepayers who are the one group who are expected to underwrite these schemes without any say.
Finally, don’t always equate ideas and opinions that you don’t agree with as me being wrong.
If you look at all my posts you will find the aggregate is a case of “credit where credit is due”.

Pork Hunt9:59 pm 06 Oct 14

dungfungus said :

It was reported in the Canberra time yesterday (Sunday of a long weekend is a great time to sneak in a story that is going to impact on ratepayers without their approval) that even more money is to be spent at the arboretum which is fast becoming a bottomless pit for some unelected people to waste money on.
The principal item on the agenda is a second access road (should have been in place from day one) and links into roads in adjoining residential suburbs under development.
Hmmm, I’m looking at the title of this thread again.
Also on the agenda are new walkways and bike paths, landscaping around the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, rocky knolls, more options for cafes/food, canopy walks and a water feature for Central Valley”.
This is really tacky “theme park” sort of stuff.
But wait!!!!
No mention of more trees which is what an arboretum is supposed to be about.
This PPP (Personal Pet Project) is now rivalling the light rail as Canberra’s greatest folly.
The initiatives, including the proposed second entrance, will be subject to funding in the ACT Budget.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/new-entrance-proposed-at-national-arboretum-canberra-to-ease-congestion-20141004-10q875.html#ixzz3FLVEhOpo

Dungers, I have a serious question. On this forum you constantly shoot down people and ideas regardless of the subject being discussed.
My question is: do you like anything? Just one thing will do, no source required. Thanks in advance.

dungfungus6:22 pm 06 Oct 14

It was reported in the Canberra time yesterday (Sunday of a long weekend is a great time to sneak in a story that is going to impact on ratepayers without their approval) that even more money is to be spent at the arboretum which is fast becoming a bottomless pit for some unelected people to waste money on.
The principal item on the agenda is a second access road (should have been in place from day one) and links into roads in adjoining residential suburbs under development.
Hmmm, I’m looking at the title of this thread again.
Also on the agenda are new walkways and bike paths, landscaping around the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, rocky knolls, more options for cafes/food, canopy walks and a water feature for Central Valley”.
This is really tacky “theme park” sort of stuff.
But wait!!!!
No mention of more trees which is what an arboretum is supposed to be about.
This PPP (Personal Pet Project) is now rivalling the light rail as Canberra’s greatest folly.
The initiatives, including the proposed second entrance, will be subject to funding in the ACT Budget.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/new-entrance-proposed-at-national-arboretum-canberra-to-ease-congestion-20141004-10q875.html#ixzz3FLVEhOpo

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd11:44 am 17 Mar 14

Masquara said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Queen_of_the_Bun said :

It’s not even a rumour. It is the OP’s self-confessed inability to comprehend a 10 minute news story.

Do unpark your witless head from between those buns for a seccy and take note that my OP is clear: I caught a few seconds of the item. OK? Now, feel free to put your head back.

BS

Your OP is clear, clear that you heard a 10 second bit then automatically jumped to conclusions and announced to all that *apparamtly there will be houses among the trees* then continued to conjecture then put the boot into Stanhope.

Every single part of the OP is posed as a question ( you know, the sentences with a “?”, that’s a “question mark”), ending with: “Does anyone have the facts?” That is the exact opposite of “jumping to conclusions”.

Putting a question mark after a jumping to conclusion( aparantly you do not understand the meaning of aparantly) does not excuse your cheap attacks on Stanhope at every chance.

Are you saying the claims made against Stanhope by rioters all over this forum, over years, followed by his hasty exit, have all been bunkum? There you go! Another question for you.

I have a brain of my own, soooo yes.

Now use your own thoughts and answer this, why do you have a kick at labor and greens at every chance, even making dumb threads like this one.

dungfungus9:49 am 17 Mar 14

Great photo in the CT Gang Gang section today of White Cockatoos attacking a tennis court net.
Wait until the cockies descend on the arboretum and hook into the exotic trees.

Queen_of_the_Bun9:48 pm 16 Mar 14

It must be wonderful to be as shameless a troll as our beloved Masquara. No need for any facts, just increasingly witless insults as his/her claims unravel.

Aeek9:14 pm 16 Mar 14

Masquara said :

Are you saying the claims made against Stanhope by rioters all over this forum, over years, followed by his hasty exit, have all been bunkum? There you go! Another question for you.

I value Stanhope about as much as Carnell, or Abbott, but if Masquara is against him, he must be a Saint.

Oh, and Zed wins on hasty exits.

Masquara2:26 pm 16 Mar 14

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Queen_of_the_Bun said :

It’s not even a rumour. It is the OP’s self-confessed inability to comprehend a 10 minute news story.

Do unpark your witless head from between those buns for a seccy and take note that my OP is clear: I caught a few seconds of the item. OK? Now, feel free to put your head back.

BS

Your OP is clear, clear that you heard a 10 second bit then automatically jumped to conclusions and announced to all that *apparamtly there will be houses among the trees* then continued to conjecture then put the boot into Stanhope.

Every single part of the OP is posed as a question ( you know, the sentences with a “?”, that’s a “question mark”), ending with: “Does anyone have the facts?” That is the exact opposite of “jumping to conclusions”.

Putting a question mark after a jumping to conclusion( aparantly you do not understand the meaning of aparantly) does not excuse your cheap attacks on Stanhope at every chance.

Are you saying the claims made against Stanhope by rioters all over this forum, over years, followed by his hasty exit, have all been bunkum? There you go! Another question for you.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd8:34 am 16 Mar 14

Masquara said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Queen_of_the_Bun said :

It’s not even a rumour. It is the OP’s self-confessed inability to comprehend a 10 minute news story.

Do unpark your witless head from between those buns for a seccy and take note that my OP is clear: I caught a few seconds of the item. OK? Now, feel free to put your head back.

BS

Your OP is clear, clear that you heard a 10 second bit then automatically jumped to conclusions and announced to all that *apparamtly there will be houses among the trees* then continued to conjecture then put the boot into Stanhope.

Every single part of the OP is posed as a question ( you know, the sentences with a “?”, that’s a “question mark”), ending with: “Does anyone have the facts?” That is the exact opposite of “jumping to conclusions”.

Putting a question mark after a jumping to conclusion( aparantly you do not understand the meaning of aparantly) does not excuse your cheap attacks on Stanhope at every chance.

Masquara11:02 am 15 Mar 14

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Masquara said :

Queen_of_the_Bun said :

It’s not even a rumour. It is the OP’s self-confessed inability to comprehend a 10 minute news story.

Do unpark your witless head from between those buns for a seccy and take note that my OP is clear: I caught a few seconds of the item. OK? Now, feel free to put your head back.

BS

Your OP is clear, clear that you heard a 10 second bit then automatically jumped to conclusions and announced to all that *apparamtly there will be houses among the trees* then continued to conjecture then put the boot into Stanhope.

Every single part of the OP is posed as a question ( you know, the sentences with a “?”, that’s a “question mark”), ending with: “Does anyone have the facts?” That is the exact opposite of “jumping to conclusions”.

Captain RAAF5:59 am 13 Mar 14

dungfungus said :

Captain RAAF said :

The Arboretum should also be used to house a national cemetery, akin to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. Where only veterans and thier spouse and citizens of significant renown can be buried. With the core of the countries historical archives all stored in Canberra, what better place is there for it so that people from all over can make the pilgrimage and research their family heritage and great Australians is the one city.

Any prizes for guessing who the first two “citizens of significant renown” are that would be buried there?

Theres going to be no shortage of people we’d love to see interred there but love them or hate them (and I hate most of them), they all form part of this country’s great history. Many will choose to be buried elsewhere, in home towns or near loved ones and it will take a while for it to catch on, especially in the early days where gravesites would be few, but death is quite trendy, everybody ends up giving it a crack and before long the place would become quite interesting.
It would also be a suitable place for memorials to disasters that affect the country and not just a localised region, say for example a tragedy like the loss of HMAS Voyager where the crew came from all over Australia and any aircraft crashes that occur (and one day it will happen). What about the occasional remains of lost military personnel that are found on some isolated field or jungle ravine, we could begin to do what the US did after WW2, and that is bring our dead home.

I know this place is full of arsehats and grammar nazi’s who have nothing better to do than complain but how about for once, people actually have some vision for this country and its future and look beyond the trivialities of what has made up the bulk of this topic and picture something that would be truly important, thought provoking, enduring and maybe, just maybe, might give this cold and sterile place the one thing it lacks, a soul.

Maybe then, people will want to visit Canberra, the place will have a certain reverence about it, a mystical quality that draws people in.

I’ve been to Arlington twice. It’s an amazing place and if it was closer, I’d go every day because behind every single piece of granite and marble is a fascinating story that encourages study, thought, reflection, hope, and promise because for so many people that are entombed or remembered there, these feelings were denied them so it is us, the living that must do it for them.

It will be a lot more than just a place to whack our dead PM’s and ministers, if only people would see beyond the petty arguments that fill their daily lives now and see that such a place may be just what this country needs to recover its identity, which is slowly fading away as we speak.