STATUTORY RULES.
1936. No. 150.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE BEACHES, FISHING GROUNDS AND SEA ROUTES PROTECTION ACT 1932.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Beaches, Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes Protection Act 1932.
Dated this tenth day of November,1936.
(SGD.) GOWRIE
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. M. HUGHES
Minister of State for Health.
Amendment of the Beaches Protection Regulations.†
The Beaches Protection Regulations are repealed and the following regulations inserted in their stead:—
“1. These Regulations may be cited as the Beaches Protection Regulations.
“2. An area at sea within which the discharge into the sea from vessels of any garbage, rubbish, ashes or organic refuse is prohibited shall be an area bounded by a line drawn from Sugarloaf Point, New South Wales (Latitude 32° 26’ South, Longitude 152° 33’ East), to a position fifteen miles 111° from such point (in Latitude 32° 32’ South, Longitude 152° 49½’ East); thence to a position fifteen and one half miles 111° from Wata Mooli Head (in Latitude 34° 14’ South, Longitude 151° 26’ East); thence to Wata Mooli Head; thence following the coast northwards to Sugarloaf Point.”
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on , 1936.
† Statutory Rules 1933, No. 8.
By Authority: L.F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.
5842.—6/29.10.1936.—Price 3d.
Overview
The Beaches Protection Regulations 1936 were introduced under the authority of the Beaches, Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes Protection Act 1932, a piece of legislation enacted to address the need for the protection and preservation of Australia's beaches, fishing grounds, and sea routes. The Act was designed to establish a framework for the protection of these natural resources, ensuring their sustainability and ecological balance. The Regulations were made by the Governor-General in Council, under the authority delegated by the Commonwealth Parliament, and aim to implement the provisions of the Act by prohibiting the discharge of waste materials into designated sea areas. These Regulations seek to prevent the pollution of marine environments and to protect marine ecosystems and human health from the harmful effects of waste disposal at sea.
Scope and Application
The Beaches Protection Regulations, as set out in Statutory Rules 1936 No. 150, provide the legal framework for the protection of designated marine areas within Australian waters. These regulations apply to all vessels operating within the specified boundaries, prohibiting the discharge of any garbage, rubbish, ashes, or organic refuse into the sea. The geographic scope of these regulations includes a sea area bounded by specific coordinates, beginning from Sugarloaf Point in New South Wales and extending to Wata Mooli Head, following the coastline. The regulations serve to enforce environmental protection measures in designated marine areas, ensuring the preservation of coastal and marine environments from pollution. These regulations extend the provisions of the Beaches, Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes Protection Act 1932 and are subject to amendment through subordinate instruments as necessary.
Key Provisions
The Beaches Protection Regulations, which replace the previous regulations, establish specific areas where the discharge of garbage, rubbish, ashes, or organic refuse into the sea from vessels is prohibited. Section 2 (2) specifies the boundaries of these protected areas, beginning at Sugarloaf Point in New South Wales and extending in a defined arc and linear path to Wata Mooli Head, then following the coast back to Sugarloaf Point. These regulations aim to protect marine environments by restricting harmful discharges in sensitive areas.
Under these regulations, the parties or entities governed must adhere to the specified boundaries and refrain from discharging any garbage, rubbish, ashes, or organic refuse into the sea within the designated areas. This includes all vessels, whether commercial, recreational, or otherwise, ensuring a uniform standard of environmental protection across the maritime domain. Compliance with these regulations is essential to maintain the ecological integrity of the protected marine areas.
The Act provides for civil and criminal penalties for breaches of the regulations. Specifically, any person found guilty of contravening the regulations may be liable for a penalty. The maximum penalty for a corporation is outlined in Section 3 (3) of the Act, which stipulates a substantial fine of up to $1,100,000 for each offence. This severe penalty underscores the importance of adhering to the regulations and highlights the seriousness with which breaches are treated under the Act.