My name is Sam, and I’m both a local resident and small business owner at the Curtin shops. I run Two Blind Mice, a neighbourhood restaurant that’s proud to serve our vibrant and close-knit community.

Curtin is more than just a place to shop — it’s the heart of our suburb. It’s where neighbours meet, where families gather, and where small businesses like mine work hard every day to contribute to a sense of place and belonging.

But the Curtin shops are long overdue for upgrades. The precinct is showing its age — with tired infrastructure, a lack of accessible facilities, and few amenities that support social connection, safety, or community use. These issues are holding Curtin back from reaching its potential as a modern, inclusive, and welcoming community hub.

Recently, I installed communal benches at my own expense to help encourage connection and comfort in the precinct. They were well used and appreciated — until I was told to remove them following an anonymous complaint. That decision was disappointing, but it also shone a light on a deeper issue: our local centre is not being treated as the community asset it deserves to be.

I’ve written to the ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel MLA, asking him to support urgent upgrades to the Curtin shops — including improvements to infrastructure, accessibility, and communal facilities. Minister Steel has responded, indicating a petition would help demonstrate community support.

So I’m asking you to stand with me and sign this petition.

By calling for a well-planned, community-informed upgrade of the Curtin shops, we’re not just asking for cosmetic improvements — we’re advocating for a future where local centres are places people want to be. Where connection is encouraged. Where residents are heard. And where government supports the people and businesses that make these places special.

Let’s work together to create a more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming Curtin. Please add your name to help show Minister Steel this matters to all of us.