THIS city of ours is truly beautiful.
Marcus Paul.
However, only ever at ground level.
Last week, courtesy of long-running Canberra company Balloon Aloft, I saw the city slowly waking to another day from a hot-air balloon as our central lake, memorials and embassies glistened in the early morning sun.
The seriousness of Mr Fluffy-affected residents, the on-going bickering around light rail and the increasing vacancy signs around some of our struggling town centres seemed far away as I floated over Parliament House at 100 metres (I’m certain this is the only capital in the world where you can do such a thing).
It occurred to me throughout the hour-long flight from Russell, via Dickson across Lake Burley Griffin to a safe, soft landing at Yarralumla, that despite all the issues affecting Canberra, our city’s clear natural beauty is the perfect solace from which to escape the grind of every day.
How wonderful Namadgi National Park is in winter, walking in snow at Corin or travelling the Murrumbidgee in the heat of summer, taking a dip in one of the cooling water holes.
Our lakes (well, most of them) are attractions in their own right and it’s no secret our bike tracks are some of the best in Australia.
Back in the air – from 1000 metres – it’s clear how much this city has grown. Looking south toward Woden and the valley, it’s easy to see the sprawl that has also engulfed Weston Creek. The construction sites that have dominated the Dickson waterfront precinct are nearing completion and, I have to say, it filled me with pride to see the Cricket World Cup logo adorning a beautiful Manuka Oval.
From the air you can clearly see our airport precinct’s new developments from international companies. All that’s missing are the international carriers on the runway that the government so desperately wants and this city needs.
The city centre stands proud and, yes, there are the new hotels and trendy boutique apartments that make up New Acton, but all in keeping with Canberra’s unique character, which has nothing overshadowing the institutions including Parliament House and the War Memorial.
So, as we move into autumn take a moment to reflect and enjoy what Canberra has to offer. Look up on Canberra Day and marvel at the spectacle of dozens of hot-air balloons filling the sky for the annual balloon festival and enjoy the relative ease in which we are able to get around our suburbs, and be proud of where we live.
Despite Canberra’s many problems, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Marcus Paul is the drive announcer on 2CC
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