Immigration Bridge

IF it is 12m high will it interfere with sailing?

ah yes, thanks S4anta

Mr Resident,

Lennox Gardens are down behind the Hyatt hotel.

Where is Lennox Gardens? Is it near the implosion incident across the lake from the old hospital? I’m trying to be tactful here.

Yeah, and I’m really going to take advice from someone with a username akin to IP Daley.

I like the idea of the glass tunnel. Maybe we can convince visitors that all of the crap on the lake is naturally occurring

MV Southern Cross is not 4 stories high. And it easily gets under Commonwealth Bridge.

Actually bein only 12 metres high… That is going to stop the MV Southern Cross (Floating Restaurant) from driving down to the main basin.

Also imagine all the idiots that are going to wreck it by jumping off it and graffiti’ing all over it… Once it goes dark – Canberra isn’t what it was during the day!

I have already contribited to the WOG bridge so frack off.

If concerns about protecting sailing is the biggest objection to this bridge, then I think it’s all but built. Yes, sailing good, but the lake’s reason d’etre is as the centrepiece of the national capital and its prominent institutions, not a place for people to sail. If the bridge makes the lake and the NMA more walkable and accessible, then I’m all for it.

@8 – rather than being a road through a playing field, I would have more thought it a landscaped path through a piece of parkland where people like to play touch on occasion.

shenanigans said :

…The Immigration bridge is not “architectural junk”. In fact it’s a very beautiful design. Furthermore, there was always a bridge in that spot on Walter Burley Griffin’s original design. We need something here to help people get across to the NMA, thereby completing the path of significant buildings by the lake.

So you might not be able to sail in that part of the lake? Boo hoo. Buy a rowboat.

Why would have Walter designed a bridge from Lenox Gardens to the hospital? Cause that’s what it originally was??!!

Obviously it didn’t happen for a good reason – so why try and revive a dead idea?

Sailing on that lake is the best – it’s the best lake in Canberra to sail on – why ruin it? Doesn’t seem fair – also how will the Governer Generals sailing races go with only half a lake! Hope the GG does something to save the yearly race on Australia day!!!! (I’m not to sure if it is the GG race – could be some other important figure – was a quick guess – so don’t quote me if i’m wrong!)

it’s an ‘immigration bridge’, so southsiders can emigrate to the people’s republic of the inner north using state-of-the-art streamlined visa procedures…

I think it has been proposed as a terrorist diversion – soon to be called Canberra Harbour Bridge – to give Al-Qaida a target to fly a plane into instead of than parliament house.

What a fabulous idea,a glass tunnel under the lake.That would bring in the tourists.Only problem is the water is so dirty that you wouldn’t be able to see any thing.How do you get a heritage listing for the lake to stop the monumentalists?

Surely they could design an arch bridge that could allow all types of boats to go underneath? And is the idea to get more people in Lennox Gardens? Is that going to be developed (eg-small business, government)? So many questions…

I think that a glass tunnel under the lake would be better, and potentially more symbolic (make of that as you will).

I heartily endorse this event or product.

There is already a similar concept running in Sydney called the “Welcome Wall” which is a national tribute to all immigrants. http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=404

Sailing, rowing, kayaking and canoeing on LBG is a sport like any other. Canberra has youth teams that do very well at interstate and national events. We are pretty good for an inland city.

LBG isn’t the largest of lakes for water sports to take place and the bridge will be built across one of the largest sections of the lake. This area is often used when young people and beginners are learning as it is protected from prevailing winds and is free of obstructions. An example of this is when the childrens sailing programs are running and there will be a fleet of little sailboats full of kids on the lake in that area.

Building the bridge will be like putting a road through the middle of a sports oval, except there are not any other ovals which are as safe for our learners. Many of the sailboats are confined already to the western end because the bridges have been built too low for them to get under. Space for water activities in Canberra is limited already for those who enjoy that sport.

The Immigration bridge is not “architectural junk”. In fact it’s a very beautiful design. Furthermore, there was always a bridge in that spot on Walter Burley Griffin’s original design. We need something here to help people get across to the NMA, thereby completing the path of significant buildings by the lake.

Burley Griffin also wanted the city to build a grand pedestrian mall down to the lake where the obselete ferry terminal sits and a public edifice to be set there. Kate Carnell had a similar vision. The proposed bridge could run from that building to the hospital peninsula. Squabbles between the ACT Gov and NCA has left the foreshore as a wasteland instead of the shining jewel in Canberra Real Estate.

I remember seeing the plans when the Museum was being proposed, and there was always a bridge there. In the original design it was a continuation of the twirly bit outside the Museum. So, nothing new, they’ve just finally got the money to do it.

For anyone that’s tried getting to the museum sans car, this would be a great idea… but I can see how it’d inconvenience lake users as well.

areaman: there were models setup at Regatta Point for a while, the ‘Burley Griffin Plan’ that they had seemed impressive but it’s obviously going nowhere now.

Why is every post on this site seemingly AGAINST something?

The Immigration bridge is not “architectural junk”. In fact it’s a very beautiful design. Furthermore, there was always a bridge in that spot on Walter Burley Griffin’s original design. We need something here to help people get across to the NMA, thereby completing the path of significant buildings by the lake.

So you might not be able to sail in that part of the lake? Boo hoo. Buy a rowboat.

I think I’m for it, though I’d want to see what it’ll look like first. It’ll make it a lot easier to get to the NMA and tie it together with the rest of the national institutions in the parliamentary triangle

The money was to come from private donors – who in fact put the whole idea forward – although apparently “The project taking the form of a bridge was at the suggestion of the NCA”. Incidentally you’re better off addressing any bouquets or brickbats to the NCA, since they’re the relevant planning authority on this one.

I’m reserving judgement until I see the actual designs. The idea of better linking both Acton peninsula and the Lennox Gardens areas has merit, and I don’t subscribe to the idea that the boaties have sole ownership of LBG.

More info on the Immigration Bridge website, for those interested.

This kind of proposal is very puzzling. There doesn’t seem to be any good reason for it, it’d stuff up the lake, and it would cost a fortune. And perform no useful purpose.