Business owners and managers of Ainslie's shops precinct, from left, Niki Katsibiris, Irene Mihailakis, Manuel Xyrakis, Colette Needham, Bruno Paressant, and Keith Mihailakis. Photo: Jamila Toderas.
Canberra's suburban shops will fall prey to larger retail centres unless they reinvent themselves and diversify, a national property advisory group says.
Herron Todd White ACT managing director David James said it was becoming difficult for smaller stores to compete with the Canberra Centre and growing retail destinations in Majura Park, Fyshwick, Belconnen and Woden.
"Some smaller local shopping centres have struggled with declining patronage given the competition from group centres and town centres with larger supermarkets and a greater range of products," he said.
- Arthur Cave, the teenage son of Australian rock legend Nick Cave, has been found dead after falling from an 18-metre cliff.
- More Canberra public servants have voted to strike over their ongoing pay and conditions battle, defying a "dire" warning from their boss that industrial action might prove fatal.
- Even though former ACT Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union organiser Halafihi "Fihi" Kivalu did not testify before the union royal commission into unions on Wednesday he was still the centre of attention.
- Homes in the Hughes, Yarralumla and Macquarie Primary School catchment zones recorded the largest increases in property prices during the past 12 months.
- The ACT government has given the go-ahead for a caravan park and tourist accommodation for up to 480 people at Exhibition Park.
- A refugee with severe mental health issues received an "appalling" lack of treatment in immigration detention before being tasered outside Parliament House, where he'd gone to tell politicians he was a prophet.
Brumbies prop Scott Sio: hoping to add to his five Test caps this weekend against the Springboks. Photo: Jamila Toderas
ACT Brumbies prop Scott Sio wants to begin a "tradition of Sios" playing at World Cups but he's still unsure whether he's done enough to make the Wallabies 23 to take on South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.
Sio says Wallabies captain Stephen Moore has unified the squad in the role he's been "playing his whole life waiting for".
The 23-year-old was disappointed to miss the Wallabies' European spring tour last year due an ankle injury and was hoping to add to his five Test caps this weekend against the Springboks.
- He hasn't played regularly in the halves for seven years, but Kurt Baptiste's Australian schoolboys coach believes the Canberra Raiders hooker can "strike like a taipan" in the No.7 jersey.
- Cronulla's Jack Bird has been on the receiving end of some Blake Austin magic and is determined not to let it happen again as the Sharks' finals hopes go on the line.
- World Cup hero James Faulkner will sit out the limited-overs component of Australia's tour of England after being suspended for four matches by Cricket Australia due to a drink-driving offence this month while playing county cricket.
- Davis Cup captain Wally Masur is still getting to know Nick Kyrgios, but the evidence gleaned from a doubles scratch match at Marrara earlier this week was enough to convince Masur that his young spearhead was back in a happy place following an extraordinary few weeks in the headlines.
- The ACT will have three representatives competing for Australia in the World Indoor Cricket Federation Junior Championships, to be held in Brisbane in September.
- The football family mourned Phil Walsh in a moving memorial service at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, but outside in the bitter cold few fans were to be seen.
- The last time Australia held the women's Ashes, ACT Meteors quick Rene Farrell took a hat-trick to help take down England. Now she hopes to help the Southern Stars regain the urn.
9.35am: A cyclist has been hit by a car on Cotter Road near Adelaide Avenue. It's caused minor disruptions for traffic turning onto Adelaide Avenue but all lanes remain open to traffic.
8.40am: Police have confirmed one man has died in the crash on the Monaro Highway. We'll have updates on that here.
8.01am: Power lines are down on Austin St, in Griffith. Emergency Services are on the scene.
7.52: The crash on the Monaro Highway at Gilmore appears to be very serious. Traffic diversions are in place in both directions as the Highway is closed between Johnson Drive and Isabella Drive. Police recommend avoiding the Monaro Highway, as there will be big delays. We'll bring you more details as they come to hand.
7:19: Traffic is building up after a two-car crash on the Tuggeranong Parkway southbound off-ramp onto Hindmarsh Drive at Lyons. One of those cars can't be moved off the road but police say the disruption to traffic is minor.
6.45: A crash northbound on the Monaro Highway at Gilmore is affecting southside traffic this morning. The highway is closed northbound between Johnson Drive and Old Cooma Road with diversions onto Old Tuggeranong Highway.
Police have warned of significant delays throughout the morning and encouraged drivers to consider taking another route.
Point Hut Crossing, which was closed yesterday due to flooding, has reopened.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info on the Thursday morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
The Flying Fruit Circus, Australia's famous national youth circus, will perform Circus Under My Bed at Canberra Theatre from tonight.
The War Memorial will host a photographic talk on the topic: "A most miserable hotchpotch": Charles Bean and the First World War film collection. The free event starts at midday.
The National Film and Sound Archive is celebrating 100 years of Australian animation with a selection of some of the best Australian animated features of the last 25 years. Thursday's screening is Legend of the Guardians.
Distortion; a workshop where children can create a mixed media self portrait will take place at the National Portrait Gallery. Participants can use contemporary techniques including digital images, stencils, stitching and painting. It's from 1pm and suitable for 8 to 12 year olds.
Get your skates on and head to Skate in the City's open air ice skating rink in Garema Place. The month-long event features cultural events, DJ dance parties, professional ice skating performances and dress up nights. It's on until the end of July.
Vanessa Conlin of Posies by Ness
Flowers. We've all sent or received them at some point in our lives. They are the go-to gift for any occasion, whether it be a birthday, new baby, anniversary or, well, just because.
But this customary gesture goes beyond simply spreading the love – that's something that Vanessa Conlin discovered last year when she embarked on her new business venture, online florist Posies by Ness.
The temperatures might be low but the natural inspiration has been running high for Canberra's amateur photographers who have headed outdoors to snap the capital's coolest season.
Bonner's Kelsey Sutcliffe captured this stunning image of Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin while on a walk with her partner and dog. She has entered the image in The Canberra Times' winter photo competition.
For your chance to win a share of $1000 in prizes send a maximum of three photos to photocomp@canberratimes.com.au attached as JPEG files. Full competition terms and conditions are at canberratimes.com.au
Today: Rain. Min 1, max 9.
Friday: Possible showers. Min 1, max 10.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Min -1, Max 12.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a 20% chance of a shower. Min -3, Max 12.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Min -4, max 13.
Tuesday: Possible shower. Min -2, max 14.
Wednesday: Possible shower. Min 2, max 13.