They were a frequent sight on Lake Burley Griffin in decades past, a popular attraction for tourists and young families.
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Now, after many years gathering dust, pedal boats could be making their way back onto the water.
![Suzanne Hannema, NCA director of national capital activation and events, takes a pedal boat for a test spin. Picture: Karleen Minney Suzanne Hannema, NCA director of national capital activation and events, takes a pedal boat for a test spin. Picture: Karleen Minney](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc761wdb1rq5l14132j9dz.jpg/r0_285_5568_3428_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The National Capital Authority says it's looking at using the now dormant pedal boats to get more people to use the lake during the warmer months.
The authority recently acquired the 17 pedal boats from the ACT government, which had been sitting at the ferry terminal in West Basin for several years after the government moved to buy the site to make way for potential development.
The authority's director of national capital activation and events, Suzanne Hannema, said they hoped to return the boats to the lake as soon as possible.
"There's been such a display of affection over the years for the boats," Ms Hannema said.
"We definitely want to see more people using the lake and the environment around the lake."
Work will take place on Wednesday and Thursday to remove the pedal boats from the West Basin ferry terminal. The boats will then be assessed by specialist engineers to see if they are still seaworthy.
![People enjoying pedal boats in 1977 as part of Canberra Day celebrations. Picture: Martin Jones People enjoying pedal boats in 1977 as part of Canberra Day celebrations. Picture: Martin Jones](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Yb2Jn5LgcGxmVnDUUjd5xi/7ba3131e-b50c-4960-acd6-30f9af4c0696.jpg/r0_0_445_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The pedal boats were donated back to the authority by the ACT government's City Renewal Authority.
While the goal is to have the boats used on the lake once again, Ms Hannema said there were plans in place if some of them were no longer usable.
"If they're not seaworthy, then we hope to have some sort of static display involving the pedal boats," she said.
"We'll assess the boats and see what we can do with them. It depends on how many of them are seaworthy.
"The most important thing to make sure is that the boats are safe."
Ms Hannema, who took one of the paddle boats out on the water on a frosty Wednesday morning, said the boats still held up remarkably well, despite lying dormant for several years.
"It was just a joy to be out there and enjoy the lake and go where you want to go, as long as you can pedal back," she said.
"It's also perfect for children who don't know how to sail or kayak, and they can just jump in the boats."
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