Management Plan Area

Description of the Lake Burley Griffin Precinct

Lake Burley Griffin is the centrepiece of the city of Canberra. The lake was formed by damming of the Molonglo River. Covering 664ha, it has a 40.5km of shoreline (NCA 2005). There are 3 large islands and 3 small unnamed islands in the Lake.

The Lake was named after Walter Burley Griffin, the architect who won the design competition for the National Capital Plan in 1912. The Lake was an integral part of that Plan (NCA 2005). Construction of the Lake began in 1960, and was undertaken in two stages. Stage one involved the construction of the dam, lake floor, two bridges, jetties and edging of over 843ha of foreshore. Water filled the site in 1964 with the closing of the Scrivener Dam valves in 1963 (NCA 2005). The second stage of the Lake construction was detailed landscape development of the foreshores including the planting of exotic vegetation such as willows. The preservation and enhancement of Lake Burley Griffin as a central landscape feature of the National Capital is a matter of national significance in the planning and development of Canberra.

The Molonglo River flows for approximately 10km before joining with Lake Burley Griffin proper. Adjacent land use includes agriculture on private leaseholds, Defence activities, business, and recreation.

Lake Uses

Lake Burley Griffin is a nationally significant water feature for the city, accommodating multiple uses. Lake Burley Griffin and the Molonglo River are used for a wide range of recreational activities including canoeing/kayaking, dragon boating, rowing, ferry services, charter boats, water taxis, sailing, fishing, swimming, model boating, triathlon, restricted power boating, water skiing, windsurfing, picnicking, walking, cycling, foreshore events and ceremonies.

Lake Burley Griffin is a focus for many different activities

The Lake is also used for very small-scale irrigation activities. The Water Resources Management Policy and Strategy 2005 forms part of the Australian Government's National Water Initiative, and governs management of Lake water resources. The Lake Burley Griffin Abstraction Plan 2005 has also been developed to ensure that the available water is used wisely and fairly.

The NCA is currently allocated a capped amount of water that can be taken from the lake in order for the lake level to remain relatively constant. This abstracted water is reallocated to users. Areas irrigated using lake water under the abstraction plan include parts of the Parliamentary Zone, the Governor General's residence, Black Mountain Peninsula, Yarralumla Nursery, the Australian National Botanic Gardens and Royal Canberra Golf Club.

Water Quality Management

The NCA manages a comprehensive water quality program to monitor the environmental status of the Lake. It also advises Lake users on changes in water quality arising from floods and droughts, and elevated bacterial and algal levels.

The NCA's Water Quality Program has three components:

• Routine testing of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the water from mid stream samples
• Microbiological monitoring on recreational beaches
• Algae monitoring program. Visual weekly inspections are undertaken with samples taken on monthly basis

Algae monitoring has the most relevance to willow management. Willows drop all their leaves at once, often starving the water of oxygen. This can disrupt components of ecosystems and often results in algal blooms. The overall effect of this is likely to be minimal because high temperatures often associated with algal blooms are not present at the time willows are shedding. However, the creation of an anoxic environment from massive leaf fall should not be underestimated at a local scale.

Canberra is defined by some of the landscape features of Lake Burley Griffin

National Capital Plan – Environment and Heritage

Several aspects of the National Capital Plan are relevant to the Lake Burley Griffin Willow Management Plan. The National Capital Plan recognizes the historic role of the development of Canberra and Lake Burley Griffin and more specifically seeks to (NCA 2005):

• Preserve and enhance the landscape features which give the National Capital its character and setting;
• Ensure respect for key elements of Walter Burley Griffins Plan for Canberra;
• Create, preserve and enhance appropriate sites, approaches and backdrops from national institutions and ceremonies as well as National Capital uses; and
• Develop a city which both respects environmental values and reflects national concerns with the sustainability of Australia’s urban areas.

This is particularly relevant to willow control, since some activities could have significant impacts on landscape characteristics and heritage values.

The National Capital Plan 2005 contains general land use policies for the ACT and within this designates land that has special characteristics such as the Lake precinct. The NCA has planning responsibilities over these areas. Other areas are covered by the Territory Plan and are the responsibility of ACT Planning and Land Authority. The Canberra Spatial Plan 2004 provides strategic direction for Canberra over the next 30 years and informs changes to both the Territory Plan and National Capital Plan.

The NCA also administers the National Land Ordinance 1989 and applied provisions including the Lakes Ordinance 1976. This involves the management of Lake Burley Griffin for a variety of functions in accordance with community values (NCA 2005). These functions include water rights, water use, alterations in water level, prohibitions related to boating, conduct of recreational activities, lake closures, use of lake areas, erection of signs, swimming prohibitions, buoys, wharves and jetties, selling and hiring of goods, camping, lighting, and water navigation.

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Last modified: 23/07/2010