Lake Burley Griffin A time line of the development of the Lake system, subsequent changes and key actions for the Lake's protection A report from the Surveyor, Charles Scrivener, recommended the site for Canberra with the Molonglo River traversing it as waters from the catchments of 1909 the Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers could provide a central lake feature with the flood plain area parklands. (Figure 1, plan provided for the city competition) A lake central feature of the prize winning plan for Canberra by Walter Burley Griffin and Marian Mahony Griffin, surrounded by a perimeter of parklands with 2 1911 bridges and 2 causeways over the waters, including an extensive East Lake and West Lake either side of three central basins. (Figures 2 & 4) Central Basin was widened in the plan with an island at the Regatta Point 1914 location. (Figure 3) The West Basin circular shape was changed in the plan (Reid 2002, 146). 1918 (Figure 5) Senate Committee stated the need for the Lake as a visual and recreational 1955 resource. Prime Minister Robert Menzies supported the formation of the National Capital 1957 Development Commission with the construction of the Lake and its parklands as the first major project. William Holford was invited to review the Canberra Plan. National Capital Development Commission established by National Capital ​ Development Act 1957 1957 https://www.archives.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/562606/NCDC_files. pdf William Holford's diagram shows the lake as a less structured shape from the Griffin's plan, with East and West Lakes deleted 2 causeways, a greatly reduced 1957 the lake's size and formality of its form, and the impounding of the lake at Acton Peninsula. (Figure 6) The NCDC plan for the lake kept Griffin's basin composition, land and water axes and the perimeter of parklands. The east and west ends of the Central Basin 1959 south side were beveled (the corners of the lake edge reduced and angled) and a freeway separated the north side of the city from the lake. The NCDC plan for landscaping of the central basin extending natural vegetation from hills to the centre of the City commenced (Reid 2002 p.272). 1961 An Advisory Report on the Landscape of the Canberra Lake Scheme by William Holford & Partners published by the NCDC. The Lake was completed with the lake shoreline mostly following natural 1963 contours. Lake waters reached their final level by 29 April. NCDC produced a Master Plan for Lake Burley Griffin that followed the 1961 1964 plan. (Figure 7) 1 Inauguration and naming of the lake, Lake Burley Griffin by Prime Minister, the 1964 ​ ​ Hon Robert Menzies. The NCDC received the Australian Institute of Landscape Excellence Award for 1986 Lake Burley Griffin and Adjacent Parklands (AILA 1986; NCDC 1986). The establishment of the ACT Government through the Australian Capital ​ Territory (Self Government) Act 1988. 1988 ​ ​ The Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Management Act 1988. ​ ​ The NCDC was abolished and National Capital Planning Authority (NCPA) established under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land 1989 ​ Management) Act 1988 with responsibility for the capital but not for the rest of the ​ city. 1989 Permanent Parliament House on Capital Hill completed. 1990 The initial National Capital Plan 1990 published. ​ ​ A plan was prepared proposing the development of Acton Peninsula and 1992 foreshore with urban buildings in West Basin (Reid 2002, p.335). 1997- Planning for Kingston Foreshore. Construction commenced in 2007. The Griffin Legacy, report published by NCA with development opportunities 2004 ​ outlined. (Figure 8) Amendments to the National Capital Plan (A.56, 59, 60 and 61) provided 2006 ​ ​ authority for development without heritage or social planning. Joint Standing Committee for the National Capital and External Territories 2007 (JSCNET) gave a negative review of the Griffin Legacy amendments. Passage through Parliament by Federal Minister of the originally proposed 2008 amendments to the National Capital Plan. ​ ​ The NCA nominated ‘Lake Burley Griffin and Adjacent Lands’ to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2010 covering the Commonwealth property; the lake itself, the lake islands and adjacent national land of the Central Parklands, 2010 Stirling Ridge, Attunga Point, Yarramundi Peninsula, Scrivener Dam and Kings and Commonwealth Avenue bridges. The heritage assessment was completed and recommended by the Australian Heritage Council, but a final decision by the Minister was not finalised. The assessment was extended to 30.6.2017. The City Plan, prepared by the ACT Government, with strategic planning that 2014 ​ ​ included development of West Basin. At Kingston Foreshore, the site for the Commercial Boat complex was relocated to Black Mountain Peninsula Park and the Capital Lakes Rowing Club was 2015 relocated to Grevillea Park enabling the sites that were originally part of the Foreshore to be sold for commercial development. ACT Government published City to the Lake – West Basin Waterfront and June 2015 ​ ​ undertook a public consultation by way of an online survey with 381 respondents August 2015 City to the Lake Strategic Urban Design Framework prepared by the Land 2 ​ Development Agency, showing the development planned for West Basin. Amendment 86 to the National Capital Plan introduced wording to allow urban ​ ​ May 2016 development in the lake parklands, as well as giving strength to heritage in the Designated Area. Public meeting hosted by LBGG. Speakers: Ian Woods Bradley, advisor to the Land Development Agency (LDA), Malcolm Snow CEO NCA, Shane Rattenbury July 2016 MLA, (paper) by Jeremy Hansen MLA, Juliet Ramsay LBGG. Tony Powelll former CEO NCDC, Max Bourke AM LBGG. The meeting's resolution are: http://lakeburleygriffinguardians.org.au/public-meeting-at-hughes-community-centre-27th- of-july-6-730pm/ Auditor General's report on the Land Development Agency (LDA) including 2017 exposing the LDA's excessive payments to commercial operators in West Basin and other issues resulted in the removal of the Agency. Petition submitted to the ACT government with 740 signatories in opposition to 2017 ​ the West Basin development urging protection of the Lake and lakeshore. 2017 NCA's Acton Peninsula Precinct draft Structure Plan 2017 NCA's Kings and Commonwealth Avenues Design Strategy 2017 The establishment of the ACT Government's City Renewal Authority (CRA). International ICOMOS (the organisation that advises UNESCO) sent letter of resolution to PM Turnbull, Federal Ministers Hon Frydenberg MP, Hon McVeigh MP and Morton MP, and ACT Ministers Barr and Gentleman requesting the halting the infill development of West Basin works and progressing of the 19 Feb 2018 National Heritage Listing for Lake Burley Griffin and its Lakeshore Landscape. The recommendations of the letter were ignored by the politicians and not acknowledged by the NCA (copy of the letter is at: http://lakeburleygriffinguardians.org.au/icomos-resolution-conservation-of-the-lak e-burley-griffin-and-lakeshore-landscape/) Henry Rolland Park opened 23 April 2018. ACT Government referred to this as Stage 1 of the West Basin development and a map showing stages produced by 23 April 2018 the CRA. Works for the Park that included a jetty with a seat that compromised the vista of Griffin's water axis viewed from the entry point of the axis into the Lake at Action Peninsula, West Basin. Public meeting held in Albert Hall hosted by University of Canberra’s Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis with LBGG and four community groups September 2018 participating and 450 participants. There was unanimous support for resolutions similar to the 2015 meeting. 25 March 2020 Lake land (in West Basin) swap for Curtin Horse paddocks announced. NCA invitation for submissions for WA No 101849, Block 23 Section 33 Acton, 2 May 2020 Phase 2 Boardwalk and Land Reclamation proposal —lake infill works, Acton waterfront boardwalk and park. 29 May 2020 Submissions to NCA on No 101849 closed. 8 Sept 2020 Consultation Report for Works Approval No 101849 released by the NCA: a total of 187 submissions on the proposal. Of the submissions: 31 respondents 3 supported the proposal; 141 respondents opposed the proposal; and 15 respondents provided a neutral response but raised concerns or questions. Mr Malcolm Snow CEO of the CRA announced that the contract for the works with Chincivil had been signed in April 2020. Letter signed by D. Marshall on behalf of 9 heritage experts sent to M. 17 Sept 2020 Gentleman MLA with concerns on ACT heritage including Lake heritage. 17 Oct 2020 ACT Territory election. Labor-Greens Coalition subsequently formed government. Contract with Chincivil, variation to initial contract commenced and double row of 1 Nov 2020 silt curtains installed works on lake infill commenced double row of silt curtains installed 4 Nov 2020 Trees cut down at lake edge and rock infill of West Basin commenced. Plans noted in the time line Figure 1: 1909 Canberra Contour Plan by Charles Scrivener District Surveyor ((NCA, Griffin Legacy, 2004:51) ​ 4 Figure 2: 1911 prize-winning plan by the Griffins showing the Land and Water Axes (copied from Reid 2002) Figure 3: 1914 Canberra Federal Capital of Australia Preliminary Plan by Walter Burley Griffin (NLA: gmod 134-e) 5 Figure 4: 1917 Plan outlining the Lake system proposed by the Griffin (NLA: MAP NIC10) Figure 5: 1918 Plan by Walter Burley Griffin (NCA, Griffin Legacy, 2004:110) 6 Figure 6: 1958 Diagram of the Lake from the Holford Report (NCA, Griffin Legacy, 2004:102) Figure 7: 1964 Plan of Lake Burley Griffin and Foreshore Development master Plan for the ultimate development of the Lakeside Parks and Reserves (NCA, Griffin Legacy, 2004:104) 7 Figure 8: 2004 Plan of showing Lake and proposed development (NCA, Griffin Legacy, NCA 2004:185) Prepared by Juliet Ramsay 15.12. 2020 8 .