Floriade festival opens in Canberra amid traffic and union concerns

The Floriade flower festival has launched in Canberra, running from September 12 through October 11 in Commonwealth Park. This year’s theme, ‘Feast of Flowers,’ focuses on the connection between food and blooms.

Visitors should prepare for significant traffic disruptions. Major road closures are planned around the Monaro Highway and Molonglo Valley due to infrastructure upgrades and construction. Specifically, Lanyon Drive will close between the Monaro Highway carriageways from September 18 to September 21, and Coppins Crossing Road will undergo closures during the school holidays from late September to early October.

Additionally, the festival faces potential challenges from industrial action. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees' Union (CFMEU) has raised the possibility of disruptions related to a pay rise push. While Chief Minister Andrew Barr expressed confidence that the event would proceed without interference, union representatives have contested this assertion.