We're just hours away from the weekend, and the beginning of the seven day countdown to the federal election. I know I can't wait to see the end of the political slandering and a winner announced.

And, most importantly, we're days away from Mother's Day on Sunday.

The cold weather (shock, winter in Canberra is cold!?!) will continue throughout the weekend, with Saturday expected to reach a top of 17 degrees and Sunday's temperature forecast for 18 degrees. It will get to zero degrees overnight on Sunday, with frost expected.

This will be our last Canberra Now, so thanks to all our readers over the years. You can still get all the morning headlines first thing by signing up to our newsletters or on our homepage at canberratimes.com.au.

Here's what's making news in the capital this morning;

Fuel groups have blamed the ACT's high fuel prices on higher overheads, greater transport costs and the sparsity of stations throughout the capital.

They rejected accusations of price gouging, following a damning report from the ACT's competition watchdog that revealed Canberra's servos were making nearly twice the net profit of their regional counterparts.

Viva Energy's general manager of reseller markets Jennifer Gray said compared to similar sites in Wollongong, Newcastle and Sydney, Canberra's leases were 7 per cent more expensive.

Katie Burgess reports.

Meet supermum!

Nine kids aged under 11 are sure to keep you busy, but this mum wouldn't have it any other way.

Mother's Day on Sunday will be extra special for Claire Hooker, as she marks her 12^th wedding anniversary with husband Mark.

The Captain's Flat mum home schools her children and manages to write a successful blog called This Tribe of Mine and has 12,000 followers on Instagram.

Megan Doherty spoke to Claire here.

Kowen Forest will not become the newest Canberra suburb, as ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr rules out residential development in the area.

Mr Barr ruled out developing the area, before a speech where he also pledged a more confined city with less urban sprawl.

Despite evidence from senior public servants to the contrary, Mr Barr said the forest would not become housing.

Daniel Burdon has the story.

Canberra got its light rail, so is it now time for fast rail?

Labor will attempt again to revive a long-held ambition to build a high-speed rail network linking Canberra to the east coast capitals.

The party has committed $1 billion to secure land for a corridor to make it happen if elected on May 18.

Labor infrastructure, transport, cities and regional development spokesman Anthony Albanese said that if elected, a Labor government would start work on establishing a High Speed Rail Authority to oversee planning for a route running from Brisbane to Melbourne, taking in Sydney, Canberra and a number of regional centres along the way.

Scott Hannaford has the details here.

Kate Peck can handle the catwalk with ease, but how about flying around corners on a dirt track while strapped into a rally car in Canberra?

This weekend, she will hit the track in the Australian Rally Championship for the first time - a world away from her every day life as a model and television presenter.

Lucie Bertoldo has the story.