Canberra Now: ANU goes back to blackboards; and Nick Kyrgios to shine

But, amidst all the impressive technology, there is one intriguing feature the building's mathematicians insisted on: blackboards.

"We basically said we're going to need square metres of write-able space," associate professor Scott Morrison says.

"There's plenty of high technology in this building, I'm running simulations on my computer, but...we still need to write stuff."

Yvette Berry trumpets 'great job' on affordable housing

ACT Housing Minister Yvette Berry says the government is doing a "great job" providing affordable housing to struggling Canberrans.

Her comments come in the wake of sustained criticism of the government's affordable housing targets, as land prices and median rents have soared in the city, leaving few properties affordable for the lowest-earning Canberrans.

Ms Berry and Housing ACT officials faced a series of questions on public and community housing in the city from both the Opposition and Greens during estimates hearings last week.

APS ain't broken, but needs fixing

It ain't broke, but former Telstra chairman David Thodey is setting out to fix the Australian public service anyway.

Mr Thodey, now chair of the CSIRO, will lead the broad independent review into the whole of the public service, announced on the eve of May's budget, but he said review isn't needed to address specific problems within the sector.

“It's not because it's broken or because there's any issues, it's more about trying to get ahead of what the future might hold for us," Mr Thodey said this week.

He spoke with public service reporters Sally Whyte and Doug Dingwall.

Capital Recycling plans dealt a blow

The ACT government’s waste division has demolished a proposal for a recycling plant in Canberra’s east, saying "no significant opportunity will be missed" if it is not approved.

ACT No Waste’s director, Michael Trushell, blasted claims space is running out at Mugga Lane as "incorrect and misleading", and described the expectation that the territory will maintain the tip as a back-up should the plant fail as "ironic".

Capital Recycling's director, Adam Perry, was swift to point out the document was only a draft, and said the company would respond to ACT No Waste's concerns in its final environmental impact statement.

"I think that comment is an opinion and duly noted, we don’t have anything further to add," Mr Perry said.

Andy Murray backs Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon

Andy Murray has challenged Nick Kyrgios to show the mental strength to go with his physical dominance at Wimbledon.

Murray, who himself pulled out of the tournament on Sunday, anointed Kyrgios as a legitimate title contender, acknowledging that anyone able to rocket down 98 aces in four matches at Queen's loomed as a serious threat.

But the Scot believes Kyrgios's supersonic serve can only carry him so far and says the explosive talent must keep his head in order to vie for tennis's greatest prize.

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