Plans of Management
Plans of management are generally prepared for intensively used, or particularly vulnerable groups of islands and reefs, and for the protection of vulnerable species or ecological communities. Plans of management complement zoning by addressing issues specific to an area, species or community in greater detail than can be accomplished by the broader reef-wide zoning plans. The objectives of plans of management are set out in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (section 39Y). There are currently four Plans of Management within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park:
- Cairns Area Plan of Management
- Hinchinbrook Plan of Management
- Shoalwater Bay (Dugong) Plan of Management
- Whitsundays Plan of Management
Preparing a Plan of Management
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 sets out the process to be followed when preparing a plan of management. This process involves two stages of public input, each of which must last for at least one month. Notices advertising the amendment process are placed in the Australian Government Gazette and relevant local and state newspapers.
The first stage of public consultation offers the public and interest groups an opportunity to comment on management issues relevant to the area for which the plan will be developed. The second stage of public input is designed to provide opportunities for the public and interest groups to make comment on a plan that has been drafted. After the second stage of public input, the plan may be revised to take into account comments received and then a final plan is prepared and implemented.
Amending a Plan of Management
The process for amending a plan of management is set out below.
Experience has shown that in order to be responsive to the sometimes rapid changes or new pressures that develop, a plan of management for a high use area such as offshore Cairns or the Whitsundays may require amendment every two years or so. However, urgent issues may result in an earlier amendment process. During this period, all the potential issues and prospective amendments to the plan are collated by the GBRMPA Planning Unit. The relevant Local Marine Advisory Committee and the GBRMPA senior management provide advice on which of these issues will be part of the amendments to the plan. These issues are then recommended to the Marine Park Authority Board, who will then decide whether or not to amend the plan and whether to approve the items for amendment.
Once an amendment to the plan has been approved, the public consultation material will be prepared. This includes a legally drafted set of amendments (amending instrument), brochures, updates to the GBRMPA website and mail outs. Once the public materials are prepared a public consultation period of at least one month will be advertised through the website, the relevant Local Marine Advisory Committee, local and state newspapers and the Australian Government Gazette.
After the public consultation period is complete, the submissions received are considered by the Marine Park Authority Board and if appropriate, changes made. To bring the enforcement provisions under the plan into effect, changes to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 are required, which involves approval by the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Heritage, and the Federal Executive Council. The amendment to the plan and the enforcement regulations are tabled in both houses of Federal Parliament for 15 sitting days. This allows federal members of parliament to review the amendments to the plan and voice any concerns they may have. In total, the amendment process takes around 12 months to complete.
