One meteorological phenomenon and one person may be substantial impediments to this plan:

Fog.

Snow.

Exactly. Which is why the whole idea of a Sydney-Canberra seaplane service is just a way to generate publicity.

LB-I see what you did there, tch boom.

Takes me back about 40 years and as some of us may recall this has been tried before by the Late Vic Walton and Aquatic Airways in the 1980s. Same problems - wrong aeroplane, too few seats, too few passengers, too many weather issues and of course the Regulator on top of all that. Nice idea but completely uneconomical at any level!

wander over to Vancouver and observe the floatplane operation there. Fog and snow don't seem to be a show stopper for them.

Do they have CASA in Vancouver?

They won’t have CASA and they won’t have “Snow” like Canberra has “Snow”.

ps I got it LB, the others are just a bit “snow” on the uptake.

Ha! And a 'tish boom' for you, now.

Winter extension, on to Jindabyne and the snow fields!

Perhaps not the most helpful photo (even allowing for telephoto foreshortening)...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-...erns/100180740

Proposed approach path seems to be downwind for much of the year - as is takeoff.

The yacht club is about halfway along the south side of the proposed ‘runway’.

Was there one day when there were about 20 dinghies becalmed in that area (part of a school holiday sailing program). It took the yacht club about 30 minutes to tow them in.

I think it’s going to take a bit of work to get this running safely.

The yacht club doesn't have some God-given right to monopolise a lake. It is a public water course and the aircraft has the same "right" to access it as the yacht Club or any member of the general public who wants to go rowing or sailing. Once it touches down the aircraft is just another speed boat. How it gets into the lake, whether it be by air or a trailer is irrelevant.

...and there is a prohibition on the use of any powered vessel on LB-G.

Some electric vessels, some outboard-motored rowing school support vessels and a couple of tourist ferries have exemptions, but you ain't gonna see any "speed boat" out there on a normal day.

Setting all that aside... walk me through why all the little tackers on their becalmed or otherwise sailboats are obliged to make way for a seaplane.

It is straight out garbage.
There can’t be any more competing interest than the floatplanes V the sailboats on Sydney Harbour in Oz.
one of the most under-utilised water areas in Oz is Lake Burley Griffin.
typical parochial Canberra approach.

I don't live in Canberra so wasn't aware of that one. Could be a problem for the seaplanes.

The sailing boats don't give way to anyone they have right of way. From what I understand of the article they want to have a seaplane lane established on the lake where the boats aren't suppose to go which I gather is what the Commodore is complaining about.

That's not quite correct. Your right to use Lake Burley Griffin for rowing and sailing is largely unfettered - non-powered craft such as sailing boats and rowing boats do not require a permit to go onto the Lake. It's a very different regime for anything that is powered. The National Capital Authority governs how powered craft can use the lake under the Lakes Ordinance 1976. The NCA is fairly restrictive with regards to internal combustion engines on the lake; for example powered boats used for private recreational purposes are restricted to the use of electric motors only whilst on the Lake.

Problem solved - electric Beavers! (Ok I know it doesn’t have the range)

:ok:

electric beaver ? Sounds like an option on one of those Japanese sex dolls.

I think the 2nd biggest impediment to the whole thing is the single engine performance in case one fails. Those turns required after take-off with a stiff westerly just invoke images of the Potomac Bridge disaster. It will be a "brave" bureaucrat at the NDC that puts their stamp of approval on that proposal.

Although I’m sure you know -

https://www.harbourair.com/about/cor...goingelectric/

As for the Japanese... ahhh ok I’ll stop there!

Next step along the way
 

Report from the ABC
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-...ffin/100707800

NCA support the planned use. Possibly two
operators - Sydney Seaplanes (3 flights a day) & South Coast Seaplanes (once or twice a week)

Working group to address issues raised in the 107 submissions to starting meetings in February.