The National Capital Authority (NCA) has approved seaplane trial flights onto Lake Burley Griffin to test and refine operational arrangements before permanent operations begin later this year.

Test flights will run from 14 March to 19 March, in response to stakeholder requests, primarily from lake user groups including the Canberra Yacht Club.

The trial flights will include the Central Basin, which could be an alternative take-off and landing site during elevated levels of activity on West Lake and West Basin.

Sally Barnes, the NCA’s chief executive, said the trial flights aim to fine-tune guidelines around seaplane operations and ensure safety and minimal disruption especially to those who use the lake for sport and recreation.

• New safety guide for seaplanes and other Lake Burley Griffin users (15 November 2022)
• Seaplanes to Sydney and the South Coast (22 December 2021)
• Sydney to Canberra seaplanes a step closer (17 December 2021)
• Harbour-to-lake seaplane commute may be possible next year (15 December 2020)

The Canberra Yacht Club proposed the trial flights in January, Steve Hart, the club’s general manager, said.

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

Ms. Barnes said the NCA appreciates stakeholders’ participation. Since the first demonstration flight in December 2020, the NCA has met lake users to investigate the operational and infrastructure implications of seaplanes on Lake Burley Griffin.

A pontoon will be installed near the National Museum of Australia on the West Basin for boarding and disembarking.

Independent environmental and heritage experts will assess the seaplane operations.

The NCA concluded that, subject to operational, safety, and infrastructure matters, seaplanes can serve as an additional recreational and tourism activity for local and interstate visitors to Canberra, Ms Barnes remarked. It may also be a mode of transport to and from the National Capital.

“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,” Ms Barnes 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.

 “Once operations commence, the NCA will regularly review and fine-tune details in consultation with lake users and make adjustments, if necessary.”