The 200,000 places available will display the engraved names of migrants for $110 each.

The sales are part of fund-raising by Immigration Bridge Australia for the $30 million bridge, which it says will go ahead despite not yet having approval from the National Capital Authority.

Immigration Bridge Australia spokesman Andrew Baulch said sales were ''going ahead at a great rate'' as people wanted to buy Christmas gifts that lasted forever, and that the fund-raising was separate from the process of consultation, design and approval.

''The whole process will be done hand in hand with NCA ... the bridge will be done, it just depends on what form it will take,'' he said.

The group will start consultation early next year and lodge a development application at the end of the year.

It plans to start construction in 2010 and finish in time for the centenary of Canberra in 2013.

However, a National Capital Authority spokeswoman said the project was not fait accompli. She said there was a pedestrian bridge identified in the National Capital Plan but it didn't mean the Immigration Bridge would be approved.

''They need to conduct a detailed consultation process. We've got to take into consideration all users of the lake and if there is opposition,'' she said.

Senator Kate Lundy, who was chair of the joint standing committee inquiry into the National Capital Authority, said she thought the concept of the bridge was worthy but she was concerned for all parties over its implementation.

''The commitee raised the issue with the NCA and tried to gather clarification of the project, but from my recollection haven't received status of the issue.

''I think the NCA is probably a bit bemused and caught out by the way the project has been progressed.

''I'm concerned this will tick along until someone asks the questions at the very end and it all falls through. We are keen for quick an urgent clarification of project. And there needs to be [clarification] given the fact the project proponents are gaining sponsorship and people could lose money.''

Canberra Yacht Club commodore Graham Giles went to a briefing about six weeks ago and said he was heartened that the group was taking into account its concerns considering the bridge was going to happen anyway.

''I think they're moving in the right direction ... but I'd still prefer it didn't go ahead,'' he said.