24 May 2022

Can seaplanes still operate within Lake Burley Griffin's new heritage status?

| Ian Bushnell
Join the conversation
29
Seaplane

The Sydney Seaplanes Cessna Caravan test flight comes in to land on Lake Burley Griffin. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.

The recent Commonwealth heritage listing of Lake Burley Griffin will not automatically sink proposals for seaplane services operating on its waters.

National Capital Authority Chief Executive Sally Barnes said the heritage listing requirements would have to be taken into account before licences were granted but implied that seaplanes could still operate within that heritage framework.

Ms Barnes said Canberrans should know by the fourth quarter of 2022 if seaplanes would become part of the lake scene when a three-pronged piece of work was expected to be finalised, including licences.

Last December, the NCA backed the idea of seaplane services on the lake after consulting the community despite about three-quarters of submissions, mainly lake users, opposing the proposal.

READ ALSO Independent’s Day: Senator Pocock will be good for Canberra

The NCA acknowledged their concerns and hired a consultant to provide lake user guidelines so groups such as the Yacht Club and rowing clubs could safely share the waters with seaplanes.

Ms Barnes said the NCA was also looking at seaplane services’ infrastructure needs.

“Both seaplane operators are coming to Canberra in the next month to have a look at the various jetties and talk to us about exactly what’s required to dock a seaplane,” she said.

But the licence conditions will be where the heritage requirements come into play.

“And the third one is to get the licence right and the licence will be where we’re looking at the impact assessments and finalise how we protect those heritage values in the Commonwealth listing,” Ms Barnes said.

That will include values such as the vistas and views, the environment, including threatened species, and the quiet and peace of the lake.

Sally Barnes

NCA Chief Executive Sally Barnes at the test flight press conference in December 2020. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.

Ms Barnes said the NCA would have to make a judgment about what is “quiet”, whether the impacts would be significant and if they could be managed.

Sydney Seaplanes has proposed four daily services between Rose Bay and Canberra, two of which would land on and take off from the lake, tying up at the dock near the National Museum of Australia.

READ ALSO New disability strategy aims to make a more inclusive Canberra

Last year’s test flight involved a 12-sear Cessna Caravan, but the company intends to use the bigger two-engine amphibious Twin Otter that can carry a maximum of 14 passengers. The company says it plans to convert to electric seaplanes by 2025, which could allay some of the environmental and noise concerns.

South Coast Seaplanes is also interested in lake flights, first offering short scenic flights around Canberra, using single-engine Maule aircraft, but is looking to introduce packaged products, mainly targeted at international tourists, including direct connections with tourist attractions on the South Coast and in the Snowy Mountains.

The NCA said last year that seaplane operations would enrich the appreciation of Canberra as the national capital and contribute to a diversification of the local economy, but further work was required to address the concerns of existing lake users.

“The NCA is of the view that the potential impacts of seaplane operations on Lake Burley Griffin can be appropriately managed and that there are significant benefits in creating a unique travel tourism link to the nation’s capital,” the NCA said.

Join the conversation

29
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Was not supportive of the seaplanes because of the environmental impact of the av gas fuel they use. Day trips are not a great reason to trash the environment further. Good to see an electric sea plane is planned- how about changing the conracts so that ONLY e-planes can be used- that would be much more acceptable and would act as an incentive to interested companies to switch.

Capital Retro10:45 am 29 May 22

The are gas turbine powered – they don’t use avgas.

In fact they use the same fuel as all intercontinental passenger jets use which contributes about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The same fuel that is used by all the private jets that have flown into Davos delivering the people who created our “zero emissions” demands.

As for “e-seaplanes”, you are dreaming.

Stephen Saunders8:33 am 27 May 22

If NPA can wave through Biggles and his seaplane, does that also signal the end of the Ben Morton era of being precious about the light rail approvals?

There might be some interest in joy flights, but not sure that flights between Lake BG and Rose Bay, Sydney are going to be commercially viable – especially as Rex have just pulled out of the Canberra-Sydney run because of non-viability.

Will be great to see them finally come to Canberra……….

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.