Lake Burley Griffin is one of the defining features of Australia’s national capital, and is an essential part of the original layout of Canberra designed by Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin.

Context (with GML Heritage) focused on community-held values. Our approach was to first identify communities with associations to this important place, including people involved in designing the lake, managers, users, Canberrans and representatives of Indigenous communities. Engagement methods included focus groups, one-on-one interviews, a web-based questionnaire, review of artistic and creative sources, a review of tourism materials, and additional background research.

The assessment provided the basis for policy and recommendations as to how aspects of social and community aesthetic significance can best be conserved and managed. These were incorporated into a Heritage Management Plan for Lake Burley Griffin, and now form an essential part of the ongoing care and management of this important place. [Source: Context]
Since being finalised in October 2009, the HMP has been used regularly by the NCA, successfully assisting managers in major decision-making related to the lake. The four volume format has provided easy access for NCA managers and contractors on a daily basis. The intensity of community engagement in heritage values assessment and policy development for such a large and complex site provided a broad range of opportunities for everyone to be involved in heritage management of a nationally important site.

In 2010 the report received the National Trust Heritage Award for Best Conservation Management Plan. [Source: https://www.gml.com.au/projects/lake-burley-griffin-heritage-management-plan/]