Emily Larkin dives for the ball. Photo: Rohan Thomson
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A $1 million sand pit in the northern suburbs of Canberra continues to divide opinions, but ACT chief minister Andrew Barr says the controversial multi-purpose Lyneham Beach Sports Facility, which was officially opened on Wednesday, will be a valuable addition to the area's growing sports precinct.
The total cost of the project has blown out to $1.063 million after it was initially set to have a price tag of $750,000 when announced in February last year.
- Defence is handing out voluntary redundancies to staff who are walking back in as contractors on a much higher rate, a senior Defence scientist says.
- The ACT Government is paying removal costs and service connections for public housing tenants being moved in a mass relocation, an offer that will add many hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost.
- Three hundred Australian soldiers sent to help Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State were stalled for weeks due to Baghdad's visa bungling.
- Friends have remembered north Canberra man Andrew Carville as a gentle soul and humble man who "wouldn't hurt a fly".
- Clive Palmer has made the explosive claim that Special Minister of State Mal Brough asked him to fund James Ashby's legal case against Peter Slipper.
- Canberra residents have been warned to brace for gale-force winds on Thursday morning with damaging gusts up to 80 kilometres per hour anticipated.
Phillip Hughes died at the age of 25 after being struck by a cricket ball. Photo: Getting Images
Phillip Hughes' long-time coach and mentor has questioned whether cricket administrators are doing "everything humanly possible" to ensure player safety and honour the memory of the late opener, while Chris Rogers said he cannot believe the clip-on helmet guard had not been made mandatory ahead of cricket's new unknown spectacle - the pink-ball Test.
- ACT Meteors all-rounder Jodie Hicks was on the verge of running out on to the hallowed turf of the MCG with the Melbourne Demons, but she may go a step better after signing with the Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League
- Ahead of the 2015 Australian Open, Adam Scott's swagger might not be back just yet, but he is at least talking the talk.
- His agent laughed when former Minnesota Twins reliever Aaron Thompson asked him to find a contract in the Australian Baseball League. Why would someone who played Major League this year want to go where there's little money in what's considered a minor sport down under?
- When water goes out ahead of a tsunami there is trepidation about it coming back in; such was the mood in Southwark Crown Court as the jury of the Chris Cairns trial went out after an eight week perjury hearing.
9.46am: An earlier truck breakdown causing issues on the Hume Highway heading towards Goulburn is now clear!
9.33am: The two trucks have been called in so that blockage on Canberra Avenue following a two-car prang at Hely Street should be clear soon.
9.06am: There are no injuries after a minor two-car prang on Canberra Avenue at Hely Street. No update yet on how that blocked lane is looking.
8.57am: One lane of Canberra Avenue is blocked after a two-car crash at Hely Street. One car is still on the road.
8.54am: A truck breakdown is also causing issues on the Hume Highway near Parkesbourne Road, heading to Goulburn.
8.52am: Crews are on scene at a crash on Hely Street and Canberra Avenue in Griffith. Watch out if you're in the area.
If you see any accidents or have any info on the morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
The annual Design Canberra festival is on from 21 - 29 November. It's a celebration of all things design.
Enjoy a showcase of theatre, cabaret, music, spoken word and film at The Public Theatre, a pop-up outdoor theatre space in Civic Square until November 29. More info here.
Further afield, Trees + is an exhibition and celebration of the tree at the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery until December 6.
From book sales to gigs, check out everything that's on this weekend in the Canberra Weekender.
Head of ANU School of Art Denise Ferris, and graduating Honours student Janis Lejins, with his work which transposes real-time data flows into an experience of light, colour and sound. Photo: Jamila Toderas
Metadata may have been one of the buzz words of 2015, but it's not just the government who wants to use it.
It's also at the centre of Janis Lejins' colourful art installation Doric Stacks which rips data from websites, and even the viewer's face and heartbeat, and transcodes it into a display of light and sound.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
ACT Police and ACT Fire & Rescue extinguish what is suspected to be a suspiciously lit fire on the corner of Constitution Avenue and ANZAC Park on Wednesday night. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending gusty westerly 30 to 50 km/h in the morning. Min 18, max 24.
Friday: Sunny. Light winds. Min 5, max 23.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 8, max 25.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 9, max 27.
