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A decade old nomination to put Lake Burley Griffin on a heritage list has finally moved to the next stage. The proposal to add the lake to the Commonwealth Heritage List was first submitted by the National Capital Authority 2010, but only recently was the idea put to the public. The submission has garnered strong community support, but questions have been raised about the lack of clarity a listing would have on lake users. The Australian Heritage Council will assess the submission this year, although the Department of Environment didn’t provide a clear timeline when asked how long the process could take. The Lake Burley Griffin Guardians also submitted a proposal, saying the iconic man-made waterway fits every criteria for heritage listing. “It should have been done a long time ago,” convenor Juliet Ramsay said. The proposal is for the lake including all islands, except Aspen Island, Scrivener Dam and both Commonwealth and Kings Avenue bridges plus some “adjacent land” at Stirling Park and Attunga Point. The Carillon and Aspen Island are already on the list. The proposal to include the lake on the Commonwealth list would give its heritage value “formal recognition” and would likely not further impact development around much of the lake as only some nearby land is included in the proposal. Ms Ramsay said the lake fit every criteria for heritage listing and wondered why the process had been pushed back so long, raising questions over the West Basin development which recently saw part of the lake filled-in. “We think it has historical values, we think it has rarity value because it’s a man-made lake in Australia … I don’t think there’s anything like that in Canberra, in Australia,” she said. “We think it has high aesthetic value because of the visitors to the lake.” National Trust ACT president Gary Kent said if the lake did join the list, major works which would impact the “heritage values” would require government approval. What were determined as heritage values is up the AHC’s assessment. “If someone wanted to, for example, build a bridge across the lake … or fill-in part of the lake, the authority that wants to do that has to write to the federal government … and then the impact has to be assessed,” Mr Kent said. It is understood heritage listing would not impact the West Basin development which was approved and got underway last year. The proposal was open for public comment from January 26 to February 27, following a small ad in The Canberra Times. Inner-North Community Council chair Jochen Zeil supported the lake joining the list, but said a cloud of confusion shrouded the venture which he believed hadn’t been clearly communicated to the public. In a submission to the AHC he said the conversation lacked the “rigour and framework to deliver a meaningful result”. “We wish to record serious concerns about the standard of the consultation process as launched by the AHC,” it read. “This approach is disappointing and inadequate for such a key location and setting.” An NCA spokeswoman said its heritage management plan was due for public consultation this year. “It is prudent for the NCA to await the outcome of the Australian Heritage Council processes before seeking public comment on the revised heritage management plan,” she said. Heritage Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said the proposal was federal jurisdiction, but she wanted to work with them to “protect the central national area, lake and inner hills”. “To protect Canberra’s character while meeting community needs for housing and transport,” she said. “If included in the Commonwealth Heritage List, the Commonwealth heritage values of the listed place will be protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.” Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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A decade old nomination to put Lake Burley Griffin on a heritage list has finally moved to the next stage.
The proposal to add the lake to the Commonwealth Heritage List was first submitted by the National Capital Authority 2010, but only recently was the idea put to the public.
The submission has garnered strong community support, but questions have been raised about the lack of clarity a listing would have on lake users.
The Australian Heritage Council will assess the submission this year, although the Department of Environment didn’t provide a clear timeline when asked how long the process could take.
The Lake Burley Griffin Guardians also submitted a proposal, saying the iconic man-made waterway fits every criteria for heritage listing.
“It should have been done a long time ago,” convenor Juliet Ramsay said.
The proposal is for the lake including all islands, except Aspen Island, Scrivener Dam and both Commonwealth and Kings Avenue bridges plus some “adjacent land” at Stirling Park and Attunga Point.
The Carillon and Aspen Island are already on the list.
The proposal to include the lake on the Commonwealth list would give its heritage value “formal recognition” and would likely not further impact development around much of the lake as only some nearby land is included in the proposal.
Ms Ramsay said the lake fit every criteria for heritage listing and wondered why the process had been pushed back so long, raising questions over the West Basin development which recently saw part of the lake filled-in.
“We think it has historical values, we think it has rarity value because it’s a man-made lake in Australia … I don’t think there’s anything like that in Canberra, in Australia,” she said.
“We think it has high aesthetic value because of the visitors to the lake.”
National Trust ACT president Gary Kent said if the lake did join the list, major works which would impact the “heritage values” would require government approval. What were determined as heritage values is up the AHC’s assessment.
“If someone wanted to, for example, build a bridge across the lake … or fill-in part of the lake, the authority that wants to do that has to write to the federal government … and then the impact has to be assessed,” Mr Kent said.
It is understood heritage listing would not impact the West Basin development which was approved and got underway last year.
The proposal was open for public comment from January 26 to February 27, following a small ad in The Canberra Times.
Inner-North Community Council chair Jochen Zeil supported the lake joining the list, but said a cloud of confusion shrouded the venture which he believed hadn’t been clearly communicated to the public.
In a submission to the AHC he said the conversation lacked the “rigour and framework to deliver a meaningful result”.
“We wish to record serious concerns about the standard of the consultation process as launched by the AHC,” it read.
“This approach is disappointing and inadequate for such a key location and setting.”
An NCA spokeswoman said its heritage management plan was due for public consultation this year.
“It is prudent for the NCA to await the outcome of the Australian Heritage Council processes before seeking public comment on the revised heritage management plan,” she said.
Heritage Minister Rebecca Vassarotti said the proposal was federal jurisdiction, but she wanted to work with them to “protect the central national area, lake and inner hills”.
“To protect Canberra’s character while meeting community needs for housing and transport,” she said.
“If included in the Commonwealth Heritage List, the Commonwealth heritage values of the listed place will be protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.”
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
