Lake users win seaplane trial flights before regular services start

Seaplane trial flights to Canberra will take place this month after the National Capital Authority acceded to Lake Burley Griffin users’ requests for more test runs before any regular services start.

Sydney Seaplanes and South Coast Seaplanes will make the lake run from 14 to 19 March, flying a Cessna Caravan 208 and Maule M5 respectively and tying up at a specially installed pontoon at the National Museum of Australia where passengers will board and disembark.

An NCA spokesperson said no other infrastructure would be required as South Coast Seaplanes would use a fuel trailer to refuel and Sydney Seaplanes would refuel at Canberra Airport.

The flights would take place between 9 am and 4 pm, subject to weather and wind conditions and may carry passengers subject to the operators’ discretion and weather conditions.

Lake user groups, including the Canberra Yacht Club (CYC) had asked for the trial flights, which would fine-tune the guidelines around seaplane operations and ensure the safety of and minimal disruption to those who use the lake for sporting and recreational activities.

NCA Chief Executive Sally Barnes said the trial flights would also include the Central Basin to see if it could be a potential alternative take-off and landing site when West Lake and West Basin were busy.

This is despite Central Basin previously being ruled out because of its place in the Parliament House Vista.

Independent environmental and heritage experts would also assess the seaplane operations in detail.

Last November, the NCA gave the all-clear to seaplane flights to Lake Burley Griffin with as many as four services a day from Rose Bay in Sydney, while South Coast Seaplanes would fly out of Moruya with times to be confirmed.

The NCA concluded that, subject to operational, safety and infrastructure matters being considered, seaplanes could be an additional recreational and tourism activity for local and interstate visitors to Canberra and may also prove to be a potential mode of transport to and from the National Capital.

Sydney Seaplanes first approached the NCA in 2017 with a proposal for commuter services. Heritage and environmental assessments were undertaken in the years leading up to a proposed 2021 start date, with a trial run in December 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic set back the timetable.

The NCA concluded that, subject to operational, safety and infrastructure matters being considered, seaplanes could be an additional recreational and tourism activity for local and interstate visitors to Canberra and may also prove to be a potential mode of transport to and from the National Capital.

Ms Barnes said the NCA had been meeting with Lake users since the first trial flight in December 2020 to investigate the operational and infrastructure implications of seaplanes on the lake.

“While the NCA supports the introduction of seaplanes to diversify the activities that people can enjoy on the lake, we will be guided foremost by the principles of safety and least disruption to Lake users,” she said.

“Seaplanes will only commence operations once we have sufficiently considered the input of the community and stakeholders, as well as the environment and heritage consultants.”

Ms Barnes said that once operations commence, the NCA would regularly review and fine-tune details in consultation with lake users and make necessary adjustments.

The NCA spokesperson said an assessment of the trial flights would be compiled and a report made available to the public.

“A final decision will be made once we have evaluated outcomes of the trials and confirmed operational arrangements that will feed into the licences with seaplane operators and the Lake user guide currently being developed,” the spokesperson said.

CYC General Manager Steve Hart said the club had proposed the trial flights after Lake users met seaplane operators in November last year and again in January so they could more accurately assess water traffic and activities, particularly how different watercraft simultaneously use the lake.

“The trial flights will examine options for take-off and landing, including the viability of Central Basin as an alternative to West Basin at times that the pilot judges Central Basin to be a safer and less disruptive option,” he said.

“We consider this a good and necessary step, and we are happy the NCA engaged with us.”

Lake users and environmental and heritage groups opposed the introduction of seaplane services to the lake, but tourism interests and the ACT Government backed the proposal.