Canberra Now: Storms and Canberra house prices fall
Good Morning, Canberra.
Wednesday's wild weather has not dampened the stinking hot forecast for the capital and the weather bureau expects the recent spate of days above 30 degrees to continue.
Apart from the weather, property prices and car parking are in the news.
Tuggeranong hyperdome floods as hail hits Canberra bringing down trees
Canberra was hit with its second thunderstorm in two days on Wednesday, flooding parts of the Tuggeranong hyperdome and hammering the suburb with hail.
ACT Emergency Services said there were 60 call-outs for crews because of the storm, mostly falling trees and roofs letting in water. At South Point shopping centre, shoppers had to run for cover when the water broke through.
Jasper Lindell and Sherryn Groch tell the story.
Attrition doubles among ACT firefighters, as volunteer numbers dive
Attrition among the ranks of Canberra's firefighters has more than doubled to hit its highest point since reporting began, as government promises to recruit new blood to replace the ageing workforce.
Staff turnover has increased sharply in an ageing workforce. While 2.8 per cent of the workforce was aged over 60 in 2014, 7.4 per cent are in that age bracket now.
Katie Burgess has the details and the analysis.
Canberra house prices stall while units experience sharpest decline in 20 years
Canberra house prices have stagnated after six consecutive years of annual growth and unit prices have experienced the steepest decline in 20 years, according to Domain data.
The latest Domain House Price Report found Canberra's median house price held flat over the December quarter at $738,933, but unit prices have fallen 6.1 per cent year-on-year to a median of $412,718.
Despite a cooling market, Canberra was one of only three capital cities to not experience a decline in house prices over the year.
Lucy Bladen has the full story.
New Braddon plan will worsen the suburb's car parking problem, locals fear
Braddon retailers and residents have lambasted a new vision for the future of Canberra's best known "hipster hangout", fearing it could exacerbate the suburb's car parking problems.
The City Renewal Authority's Braddon Place Plan, published on Wednesday, intends to make pedestrians the priority in the inner north suburb. It proposes district-wide bike lanes and wider footpaths as part of a "low vehicle-speed environment".
Cassandra Morgan and Dan Jervis-Bardy report on the hipsters and their cars and bikes.
Breen eyes Tokyo after blistering return
Australia's fastest woman is back with a vengeance following a blistering return to the track last week and now wants to strut her stuff at Canberra's biggest meet of the year.
Melissa Breen ran her first 100 metres since the Commonwealth Games last April and it proved her fastest dash in more than 18 months with a time of 11.58 seconds.
Breen, 28, admits she wasn't sure she'd return to the sport - let alone so strong - after battling nerve, hamstring and foot injuries over the past nine months.
The two-time Olympian will start favourite in the 100m at the Canberra Track Classic at the AIS on Monday, alongside some of Australia's best track and fields athletes.