12 – Planning and Managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
115
include such diverse uses as shipping, dredging, aquaculture, tourism, boating, diving, military training,
commercial fishing and recreational fishing.
The broad objectives of zoning in the GBRMP are
set out in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (the
Act). The statutory Zoning Plan provides details on
what, and where, specific activities are allowed, and
which activities require a permit.
Under the Act, the Authority has power to perform
any of its functions in co-operation with Queensland,
with an authority of that State, or with a local governing
body in that State. This is important given the adjoining
Queensland marine parks, National Parks and islands.
The Australian Government’s primary legislation
for environmental regulation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, also provides
for such aspects as the protection of world heritage values, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of
threatened and migratory species.
N MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF MARINE PARK
When the Act came into effect in 1975, the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
was established as a Commonwealth Statutory
Authority. The GBRMPA is the principal adviser to
the Australian Government on the planning and
management of the GBRMP, and is part of the
Australian Government’s Environment, Water
Heritage and the Arts portfolio. The Goal of the
GBRMPA is ‘to provide for the long term protection,
ecologically sustainable use, understanding and
enjoyment of the GBR through the care and
development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’.
Field management (i.e. ‘on the water’) is undertaken by a number of Queensland and Australian Government agencies working under contract or other less
formal arrangements or partnerships with the
GBRMPA. These government agencies include the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPW), the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, the Queensland Water Police, Coastwatch, the Customs National Marine
Unit, and the Australian Federal Police. The GBRMPA
also directly participates in field management activities
such as compliance, monitoring and the assessment of
permits.
The Day-to-Day Management Program (DDM) is
a jointly funded co-operative partnership between
the Australian and Queensland Governments. It coordinates the day-to-day activities and field operations
required for the management of the GBRMP and GBR
World Heritage Area (including all the islands and
intertidal waters).
In addition to the DDM arrangements, Queensland
Government agencies with responsibilities for policy coordination, environment, local government, maritime
matters, catchments, land use and fisheries are actively
involved in administration and management of issues
pertinent to the health and operation of the GBR. To carry
out its functions effectively, the GBRMPA maintains liaison and policy co-ordination arrangements with all of
these agencies, both at the operational and strategic levels. This close working partnership between Queensland
and the GBRMPA has evolved over 30 years, and includes
such aspects as complementary zoning and joint permits.
This partnership has ensured the effective management
of the complex and inter-related mix of marine, coastal
and island issues, and provides for integrated management of the GBR on a whole-of-ecosystem basis.
This fundamental working relationship with the
Queensland Government and its agencies is critically
important for effective management of the GBR. Staff of
the Authority also maintain strong partnerships with a
wide range of other agencies, stakeholders, councils, traditional owners, community members and researchers
with an interest in the protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the GBR.
The first zoning plan for a small section of the
GBRMP was finalised in 1981. It introduced a spectrum
of zone types, ranging from a General Use Zone (the
least restrictive zone, allowing most reasonable uses),
through to a Preservation Zone (very small ‘no-go’ areas, set aside as scientific reference areas). These zone
types, whilst refined, still exist today.
Within each zone type (see Fig. 12.1), certain activities are allowed ‘as-of-right’ (that is, no permit is
required, but users must comply with any legislative
requirements in force), some specified activities require
a permit, and some activities are prohibited.
115
include such diverse uses as shipping, dredging, aquaculture, tourism, boating, diving, military training,
commercial fishing and recreational fishing.
The broad objectives of zoning in the GBRMP are
set out in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (the
Act). The statutory Zoning Plan provides details on
what, and where, specific activities are allowed, and
which activities require a permit.
Under the Act, the Authority has power to perform
any of its functions in co-operation with Queensland,
with an authority of that State, or with a local governing
body in that State. This is important given the adjoining
Queensland marine parks, National Parks and islands.
The Australian Government’s primary legislation
for environmental regulation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, also provides
for such aspects as the protection of world heritage values, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of
threatened and migratory species.
N MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT BARRIER
REEF MARINE PARK
When the Act came into effect in 1975, the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
was established as a Commonwealth Statutory
Authority. The GBRMPA is the principal adviser to
the Australian Government on the planning and
management of the GBRMP, and is part of the
Australian Government’s Environment, Water
Heritage and the Arts portfolio. The Goal of the
GBRMPA is ‘to provide for the long term protection,
ecologically sustainable use, understanding and
enjoyment of the GBR through the care and
development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’.
Field management (i.e. ‘on the water’) is undertaken by a number of Queensland and Australian Government agencies working under contract or other less
formal arrangements or partnerships with the
GBRMPA. These government agencies include the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPW), the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, the Queensland Water Police, Coastwatch, the Customs National Marine
Unit, and the Australian Federal Police. The GBRMPA
also directly participates in field management activities
such as compliance, monitoring and the assessment of
permits.
The Day-to-Day Management Program (DDM) is
a jointly funded co-operative partnership between
the Australian and Queensland Governments. It coordinates the day-to-day activities and field operations
required for the management of the GBRMP and GBR
World Heritage Area (including all the islands and
intertidal waters).
In addition to the DDM arrangements, Queensland
Government agencies with responsibilities for policy coordination, environment, local government, maritime
matters, catchments, land use and fisheries are actively
involved in administration and management of issues
pertinent to the health and operation of the GBR. To carry
out its functions effectively, the GBRMPA maintains liaison and policy co-ordination arrangements with all of
these agencies, both at the operational and strategic levels. This close working partnership between Queensland
and the GBRMPA has evolved over 30 years, and includes
such aspects as complementary zoning and joint permits.
This partnership has ensured the effective management
of the complex and inter-related mix of marine, coastal
and island issues, and provides for integrated management of the GBR on a whole-of-ecosystem basis.
This fundamental working relationship with the
Queensland Government and its agencies is critically
important for effective management of the GBR. Staff of
the Authority also maintain strong partnerships with a
wide range of other agencies, stakeholders, councils, traditional owners, community members and researchers
with an interest in the protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the GBR.
The first zoning plan for a small section of the
GBRMP was finalised in 1981. It introduced a spectrum
of zone types, ranging from a General Use Zone (the
least restrictive zone, allowing most reasonable uses),
through to a Preservation Zone (very small ‘no-go’ areas, set aside as scientific reference areas). These zone
types, whilst refined, still exist today.
Within each zone type (see Fig. 12.1), certain activities are allowed ‘as-of-right’ (that is, no permit is
required, but users must comply with any legislative
requirements in force), some specified activities require
a permit, and some activities are prohibited.