The National Capital Authority wants to reinvent Acton Peninsula, home of the National Museum of Australia, as a "globally recognised precinct of culture, education and recreation", National Capital Authority chief Malcolm Snow revealed on Tuesday.

He unveiled a draft structure plan to revitalise the peninsula, independent of the West Basin redevelopment unfolding next to it.

Mr Snow said while better paths and cycleways would be key to activating Acton Peninsula, he had an "open mind" about other ways to bring people into the precinct.

"The character and amenity of this precinct in its current form and condition do not reflect its natural and cultural status in short we think it's a premier location with unrealised potential," Mr Snow said.

"We also see great potential for the precinct to be much more accessible and far more attractive for public use by creating new connections with the surrounding area and offering far great variety of engaging public open spaces including Springbank Island in the lake."

Among the ideas so far are to bring more objects from the national collections out in the open and to hold more events on the peninsula.

While key slabs of land have been earmarked as possible zones for development, much of the peninsula has been saved for public use.

The draft structure plan was developed alongside the ACT government, the National Museum, the Australian National University and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

But while the ACT government had a say in its development, the plan stands separately from their West Basin strategy, Nicholas Holt from the City to the Lake project said.

"[City to the Lake] touches the boundary of [Acton Peninsula] but we don't have any active planning for any work on this side," Mr Holt said.

Head of the National Museum of Australia Dr Matthew Trinca said the West Basin redevelopment would "transform the relationship" of the peninsula to the city.

"The idea of the kind of city we're making here in Canberra, the idea of being able to use bicycles or to be able to walk between attractions in our city is such an important part of what we can offer which is quite different from other Australian cities. I think those are opportunities we can capitalise on," Dr Trinca said.

However the boardwalk currently under construction on the Commonwealth Avenue side of the basin would not stretch to Acton Peninsula, according to plans on the City to Lake website.

A spokesman for Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed the planned length of the boardwalk had not changed.

There's no timeline for the NCA's draft structure plan and both Mr Holt and Mr Snow were unable to say whether the two lakeside renewal projects would line up.

The first phase of the West Basin boardwalk is expected to be finished soon while construction on Point Park will be complete by the end of the year.

Westside Container Village will be progressively dismantled over the next few months while the government considers its next location, Mr Barr's spokesman said.

Asked how an 'activated' Acton Peninsula would fare given the fate of the pop-up precinct across the basin, Mr Snow said keeping much of the land public would be critical to making the precinct work.

"To think only about parts of the landscape I think is a mistake. Yes that was a heroic gesture but we are putting forward a comprehensive plan for the way all of the different public space elements will work together," Mr Snow said.

Have your say on the National Capital Authority's vision for Acton Peninsula at: nca.gov.au.