Environment Minister Sussan Ley said in a notice published in the government gazette she had examined the Australian Heritage Council's assessment as well as public comments provided to the council and was satisfied the lake met heritage listing criteria.

The area covers about 6640 hectares including Lake Burley Griffin, Scrivener Dam, Commonwealth Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge and a number of blocks in Parkes, Barton, Acton, Yarralumla and the Central Canberra District.

"The construction and completion of Lake Burley Griffin demonstrates the push for national development during the years immediately after Federation and before the First World War, and again after the Second World War, under the Menzies government," the minister's declaration says.

"The lake's design reflects the influence of three major urban design movements including the City Beautiful movement, the Garden City movement and International Modernism."

The minister also notes a range of threatened and rare species including the Striped Legless Lizard, the Perunga Grasshopper, the Gang-gang Cockatoo and Superb Parrot and the Golden Sun Moth, as well as the Murray Cod.

The lake was filled in April 1964 and inaugurated the following October.

Comment was being sought from the council and minister.

Australian Associated Press