21 February 2017

$14m City to Lake boardwalk, park begin to take shape

| Charlotte
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Concrete slab awaiting positioning. Photo: Charlotte Harper

The first two of 62 ten-tonne pre-cast concrete panels that will form a 150m boardwalk along (and out into) Lake Burley Griffin’s West Basin have been slotted in as the City to the Lake project gets underway in earnest this week.

The first two slabs in position. Photo: Charlotte Harper

The 8.1m long and 2m wide panels will be positioned just above the water level along the lake’s edge over the next month, with landscaping of Point Park, for which they form the centrepiece, to follow between April and November or December. The precinct will open to the public at that time and is expected to cost about $14 million to develop.

The boardwalk will extend out into the lake, providing a jetty-style feature that will enclose a small cove from which kayakers and other small boat users will be able to set out. At the end point of the boardwalk a sculptural marker will represent one point on the “lake axis” that formed part of Walter Burley Griffin’s vision for Canberra.

The RiotACT was given an exclusive tour of the construction site this morning, and learnt that the yellow, hose-like material sitting in the lake in that area between the city end of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and the Westside carpark is the floating top section of large shark net-style sheets that prevent building materials from the project filtering out into the wider lake area. The positioning of the nets gives Canberrans an idea of where the boardwalk will be once its completed.

An artist's impression of the West Basin waterfront once completed.

The concrete slabs, meanwhile, are large enough for several people to walk side by side (with faster moving traffic at the smoother end away from the lake and slower pedestrians closer to the lake, where a ridged section serves as a marker of the water’s proximity). Some slabs will feature park benches looking out over the lake once installed. The slabs are arriving by truck from a South Australian supplier in small numbers given their hefty size and weight, and the precision process of installing them in their future homes.

The kayaking cove.

The ACT Government has provided a series of artists’ impressions of the final boardwalk and landscaping for the area, which shows a concept reminiscent of the controversial pedestrian and cyclist ramp from near the National Gallery up onto Kings Avenue Bridge.

This project will be completed before further development in the City to the Lake plan gets underway, ensuring residents will be able to access public recreational space and parkland that is established when they eventually move in.

An artist's impression of the boardwalk.

Minister for Urban Renewal Mick Gentleman said this morning that the boardwalk would be an attraction in its own right and would encourage more people to enjoy Lake Burley Griffin.

“The boardwalk will create a great space for pedestrians to explore the shore of Lake Burley Griffin,” he said.

“Its generous size allows different types of users to enjoy the environment at their own pace.

“The installation of these panels signals the start of an exciting construction phase at West Basin waterfront where, once completed, the community will have an attractive and vibrant waterfront, creating a space to celebrate and have fun.”

The design consultant on the project is Indesco. The principal contractor is Chincivil Pty Ltd. The project comes under the umbrella of the Chief Minister, Treasurer and Economic Development Directorate.

Standard construction hours for the project will be from 7am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. There may be some work on Saturdays between 7am and 1pm.

Footpath diversions are in place for people to walk, run and cycle around Lake Burley Griffin during the construction period. For more information please visit www.citytolake.com.au

Will you use the boardwalk at West Basin once it's completed later this year?

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Interesting to revisit this article and compare the artist impressions to reality. They seem to have forgotten to draw the road with cars going through it at four or five times the 10 km/h speed limit, no trees within about 5 metres of the lake, and zero kayakers because there is no car parking anywhere near the long concrete jetty thingy. At least there are people fishing there. Maybe there would be kayakers if the boat hire place hadn’t been left to rot, but hey, that won’t happen because the government wants to take that part of the lake away so they can put apartments there.

Queanbeyanite9:02 pm 21 Sep 17

It looks pretty good from the bike track above. The cycle around the lake is one of the best in Australia, but there aren’t enough nice spots open to stop for a coffee. The sale of the apartments will help defray the cost of the development, imagine what a penthouse is going to cost! Hopefully there will be a bit of retail too so you can grab a coffee or beer.

I dont mind the walkway, at least its public parklandy space, but I hate the concept design sketches that have boxy apartments coming halfway down the peninsula. Apartments around the bridge to New Acton seems OK but I really hope they dont repeat the mistake of the building that blocks Kingston markets view and flow to the lake, and in Sydney the buildings are too dominant too close to the Opera House.

ChrisinTurner said :

I just hate the whole idea of filling in the lake to do this development.

I know, how dare they destroy a centuries old natural wonder.

oh, wait…

Paul Costigan2:23 pm 23 Feb 17

Dear Wildturkeycanoe

The point you raise is a very good one in principle – I do not know how it would apply in the case of pre-cast concrete; but it comes down to ‘jobs and growth’ (at last I got to use the cliché!).

If the ACT Government procurement services would spend more money investing local money in local sourcing and growing the local suppliers and specialists instead of going outside to its favoured suppliers and consultants, then the growth of local industries and specialist services would be encouraged.

I am not arguing for parochialism – you will always have to buy from outside when absolutely necessary. But there should be a strategy in place to use local money to grow local businesses as often as practicable. If the government is to stay on track to mitigate climate change – it has to also consider the carbon miles it takes to bring in so many of the materials it purchases – against the long term benefits to grow local industries and to purchase locally (jobs and growth).

I have raised this several times with local chiefs and they agree to your face but you rarely see it put into practice.

wildturkeycanoe1:39 pm 23 Feb 17

Heavs said :

wildturkeycanoe said :

Why has the government imported all those slabs of concrete from SA? Surely one of the local precast companies would welcome the extra business and without the transport costs could probably do a better deal.
I’d like to know if the local companies even had a chance to put a tender in for supplying this boardwalk or it was just some back-door shenanigans.

I would appreciate if you could throw up some names of local (even SEROC) pre-cast suppliers who would be able to produce the necessary volume and quality of material. Even one.

I hesitate to name-drop, in case it is against forum rules, but a quick Google produced half a dozen reputable businesses who have history with government projects. Surely they would be capable of making quality products as they even adverise their ability to make feature slabs. Have a look yourself, it’d only take a minute.

wildturkeycanoe said :

Why has the government imported all those slabs of concrete from SA? Surely one of the local precast companies would welcome the extra business and without the transport costs could probably do a better deal.
I’d like to know if the local companies even had a chance to put a tender in for supplying this boardwalk or it was just some back-door shenanigans.

I would appreciate if you could throw up some names of local (even SEROC) pre-cast suppliers who would be able to produce the necessary volume and quality of material. Even one.

wildturkeycanoe9:40 pm 22 Feb 17

Why has the government imported all those slabs of concrete from SA? Surely one of the local precast companies would welcome the extra business and without the transport costs could probably do a better deal.
I’d like to know if the local companies even had a chance to put a tender in for supplying this boardwalk or it was just some back-door shenanigans.

Capital Retro8:45 am 15 Feb 19

It’s the “Canberra cringe” in action. Local products and services aren’t sexy or expensive enough.

Anyone with a small business in Canberra knows what I mean.

Holden Caulfield9:12 am 22 Feb 17

Thanks for these pics. I’m really looking forward to this. It’s a great vantage point for Canberra sunsets too.

ChrisinTurner11:28 pm 21 Feb 17

I just hate the whole idea of filling in the lake to do this development.

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