These include two primary schools (Aranda Primary School and St. Vincent's Catholic school), two churches and a pre-school. Aranda has a local set of shops. The Aranda shops were left vacant for many years but have recently been leased, a cafe and bar has opened, with outdoor seating. The nearby Jamison Centre in neighbouring Macquarie services the area on a much larger scale, including supermarkets, retail and medical outlets, banks and cafes. A number of playing fields are located in the north western corner of the suburb including baseball and soccer fields, as is a Scout hall. A nursing home was located on Bindel Street, but it closed in 2015. The Belconnen Ambulance and Fire & Rescue Station, a co-located facility, opened in September 2016 with their former premises in the nearby suburb of Belconnen closing. Community activity Due to its setting in a bush environment The Aranda Residents Group (ARG) is association number A03227 on the ACT register of It is active in representing the interests of its residents on such major planning issues as the Gungahlin Drive Extension, residential development issues, the Emergency Services Station on Aranda Oval (opened 2016), and redevelopment of the Aranda Shops. The Gungahlin Drive Extension, completed in 2011, is a four lane road connecting Gungahlin Drive in Gungahlin with Parkes Way near Lake Burley Griffin. The road follows the route of Caswell Drive, separating Black Mountain reserve from Aranda.people of all ages join Political representation For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, Aranda is in the Division of Canberra. For the purposes of Australian Capital Territory elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly, Aranda is in the Ginninderra electorate. Geology Aranda is built on top of rocks from the Pittman Formation. These are from the upper Ordovician Age. Mostly the rocks are greywacke formed on a continental slope, but also have bands of the Acton Shale Member, a grey to black laminated shale. The Acton Shale contains graptolites. The Deakin Fault cuts through the south west of the Aranda Bushland. South west of the fault is Silurian age Mount Painter Volcanics tuff and ashstone. References Suburbs of Canberra