CHAPTER 15 • Australian Integrated Coastal Management: A Case Study of the Great Barrier Reef 295
are involved, as are Non Government Organisations (NGOs) with interests in tourism,
science, fishing, science, conservation and Aboriginal communities, thus enabling continuous interactions and consideration of multiple use activities/conflicts. For example:
• Ministerial Council (State and Commonwealth level) - coordinates policy at the
ministerial level;
• GBRMP Authority (State and Commonwealth level) - principle adviser the Commonwealth regarding the care and development of the Park;
• Consultative Committee (all levels of government, including local government, and NGOs)
- provides independent advice to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority;
• Advisory Committees (representation of stakeholder groups) - provide advice, creates formal communication linkages, uses local expertize, raises awareness of issues
at local level;
• Queensland Authorities (Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service and Boating and Fisheries Patrol) - provide for the daily management of the Reef.
In addition, the establishment of the twenty five year strategic plan for the World
Heritage Area (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1994) makes direct reference
to integrated management and aims to "take into account the ecological relationship
between the area and other adjacent areas, particularly the mainland". The eight sections of the plan described earlier, outline the broad objectives and strategies. Of these,
the goal of resource management clearly corresponds with the overall definition of
integrated coastal management where for example, management aims to facilitate the
sustainable multiple uses of the resources of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
through integrated management systems which are complementary with the management of the adjacent regions. This is to be done in a manner consistent with the maintenance of World Heritage, ecological and social and economic values, recognising that
the economic viability of many activities relies on the maintenance of the ecosystem
(Commonwealth of Australia 1993b, p 20).
Similarly, the direct reference to integrated planning in the twenty five year plan provides aims consistent with integrated coastal management and corresponds with general
features of integrated management. In practical terms this means establishing a "regionally based mechanism for integrated planning activities between the following: integrated
catchment management strategy; coastal protection strategy; World Heritage Areas: Great
Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics; public utilities; local authorities; Cape York Land Use
Study;" ... to coordinate ... "planning for the Torres Strait Protected Zone, the Australian Fishing Zone and the GBR World Heritage Area;" ... and ... "to have the integrated
catchment management strategy and legislation in place; with pilot projects completed,
clear guidelines for the inclusion of additional catchments established and as many
catchments affecting the WHA as possible included?' (Commonwealth of Australia 1993c).
As such, each dimension of integration needed for the coastal zone (as proposed by
Cicin-Sain 1993) has been addressed including interactions among sectors, between
regions, among government levels and the wider community, and between disciplines,
all of which are essential requirements of integrated management. The recent focus
on specific plans of management and the use of Regional Marine Resources Advisory
Committees, provides further integration and consolidation of what has essentially
been a successful approach in integrated coastallllanagement.
are involved, as are Non Government Organisations (NGOs) with interests in tourism,
science, fishing, science, conservation and Aboriginal communities, thus enabling continuous interactions and consideration of multiple use activities/conflicts. For example:
• Ministerial Council (State and Commonwealth level) - coordinates policy at the
ministerial level;
• GBRMP Authority (State and Commonwealth level) - principle adviser the Commonwealth regarding the care and development of the Park;
• Consultative Committee (all levels of government, including local government, and NGOs)
- provides independent advice to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority;
• Advisory Committees (representation of stakeholder groups) - provide advice, creates formal communication linkages, uses local expertize, raises awareness of issues
at local level;
• Queensland Authorities (Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service and Boating and Fisheries Patrol) - provide for the daily management of the Reef.
In addition, the establishment of the twenty five year strategic plan for the World
Heritage Area (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1994) makes direct reference
to integrated management and aims to "take into account the ecological relationship
between the area and other adjacent areas, particularly the mainland". The eight sections of the plan described earlier, outline the broad objectives and strategies. Of these,
the goal of resource management clearly corresponds with the overall definition of
integrated coastal management where for example, management aims to facilitate the
sustainable multiple uses of the resources of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
through integrated management systems which are complementary with the management of the adjacent regions. This is to be done in a manner consistent with the maintenance of World Heritage, ecological and social and economic values, recognising that
the economic viability of many activities relies on the maintenance of the ecosystem
(Commonwealth of Australia 1993b, p 20).
Similarly, the direct reference to integrated planning in the twenty five year plan provides aims consistent with integrated coastal management and corresponds with general
features of integrated management. In practical terms this means establishing a "regionally based mechanism for integrated planning activities between the following: integrated
catchment management strategy; coastal protection strategy; World Heritage Areas: Great
Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics; public utilities; local authorities; Cape York Land Use
Study;" ... to coordinate ... "planning for the Torres Strait Protected Zone, the Australian Fishing Zone and the GBR World Heritage Area;" ... and ... "to have the integrated
catchment management strategy and legislation in place; with pilot projects completed,
clear guidelines for the inclusion of additional catchments established and as many
catchments affecting the WHA as possible included?' (Commonwealth of Australia 1993c).
As such, each dimension of integration needed for the coastal zone (as proposed by
Cicin-Sain 1993) has been addressed including interactions among sectors, between
regions, among government levels and the wider community, and between disciplines,
all of which are essential requirements of integrated management. The recent focus
on specific plans of management and the use of Regional Marine Resources Advisory
Committees, provides further integration and consolidation of what has essentially
been a successful approach in integrated coastallllanagement.