The National Capital Authority hopes to have pedal boats back on Lake Burley Griffin by summer.
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It launched a tender on Friday seeking an "experienced business operator" to take up the long-closed business in the lake's central basin.
![The pedal boats at the ferry terminal on Lake Burley Griffin. The boats have been dormant since the business closed several years ago. Picture: Karleen Minney The pedal boats at the ferry terminal on Lake Burley Griffin. The boats have been dormant since the business closed several years ago. Picture: Karleen Minney](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc761wbnutxpc11e8ms9dz.jpg/r0_218_4256_2611_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The business closed several years ago after the ACT government had the original operators pushed out to make way for its West Basin redevelopment.
The government gave a payout of $1 million to operator Pat Seears, of Seears Workwear.
This was despite Mr Seears subleasing it to his brother, Jim Seears; something he was not allowed to do as the lessee of the business.
Jim Seears also later received a payout.
The reintroduction of Pedal Boats to the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin is an important component of the [authority's] objectives to invigorate activity in and around the Lake.
- National Capital Authority
Pat Seears' $1 million payout came under scrutiny by the ACT auditor-general, who found the business was valued at $270,000 in early 2015. Later that year, in November, it was valued at $1 million.
The auditor-general was critical of the purchase, and several others by what was then the ACT government's Land Development Agency, in a 2015 report.
Since then, the government has handed the business over to the National Capital Authority, which described it in tender documents as an important part of its objectives to galvanise activity at the lake.
The potential operator would have to bring their own portable structure in which to run administration for the business, with the pedal boats to be leased to the operator by the authority.
The minimum trading hours would be from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday from October until April, according to tender documents.
Any portable structure would have to be approved by the authority, with unpainted oiled timbers, weathered steel with a rust-like appearance and bronze the preferred materials.
"The structure should be robust, and exhibit local and recycled materials," tender documents said.
"It is anticipated that the agreed site will become available to the successful licencee in October 2019 with trading to commence at the discretion of the successful licencee and as agreed by the [authority]."
The authority's chief executive, Sally Barnes, said the pedal boats were once a popular recreational activity and "have a direct link to Canberra's history".
"The [authority] is excited to have them returned to Lake Burley Griffin," Ms Barnes said.
"It seems that just about everyone I've spoken with has a joyous memory of the boats, pedalling and exploring the lake and taking a closer look at attractions like the Captain Cook Memorial Jet."
Responses to the tender are due by 2pm, Monday September 9.