OUR HERITAGE AT RISK -  AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY - 2008

Place:    Shores of Lake Burley Griffin

Threat:   Inappropriate development

Photo: National Trust of Australia (ACT) 

A growing car park on the shore of West Basin, Lake Burley Griffin

Significance:

The lake and foreshore possess historic, scientific, social and aesthetic importance.  The lake was an integral part of the early design for Canberra being an essential landscape element.  It provides the centre-piece for the National Capital and also forms the immediate background of the national and parliamentary areas.

Statement of Risk:

Sections of the shore are subject to inappropriate use, e.g. an open car park is being built on the eastern shore of West Basin and a pedestrian bridge is planned. There is no clear plan for future use of much of the shores and no comprehensive master Plan has been produced.

There is no clear plan for future use of much of the shoreline areas of the lake.  As yet no comprehensive master plan which includes all the shore line of the lake has been produced. The National Capital Commission, the controlling authority for the lake, commissioned an urban design and planning consultant group in October 2007, to undertake a master plan study to enhance tourist and recreation opportunities and improve lake water quality, but this has been restricted to the Yarralumla Bay region.  Other regions, such as the Eastern shore of the West Basin, not covered by the master plan, are now suffering from inappropriate use.

Without a comprehensive master plan embracing the whole shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin which addresses the management and protection of its heritage significance, there is a serious risk of further inappropriate development now presently underway on the shore of West basin

Degree of Risk:        High risk - no solution agreed

Threats/Risks:           Destruction

Fate/outcome:           Suffering

Desired Outcome / Vision:

There should be no development which impacts on the heritage and visual significance of the lake and its shoreline until a comprehensive management plan has been produced.

 Photo: National Trust of Australia (ACT) 

The construction of this open car park began in 2008 with one section completed and another presently under construction.  The car park was built on former open space between the shore of the lake and Commonwealth Avenue.  The car park is clearly visible from Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, one of the major entry routes into the city from the Parliamentary Triangle.  

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