Explanatory Statement for Cockatoo Island Management Plan
23 June 2010 (181 pages)
On 21st August 2003 the Minister for the Environment and Heritage approved a Comprehensive Plan for the harbour sites managed by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (the Trust). The plan, which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001, sets out the Trust’s vision for the sites under its control.
A requirement of the Trust’s Comprehensive Plan is that more detailed management plans are prepared for specific precincts, places or buildings. In addition to this the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 requires the Trust to make plans to protect and manage the National Heritage values and Commonwealth Heritage values of National and Commonwealth Heritage Places. Cockatoo Island is identified on both the National and the Commonwealth Heritage Lists.
Cockatoo Island is also one of eleven sites that will form a proposed serial nomination of Australian Convict Sites for World Heritage listing. This plan includes measures to protect the potential World Heritage values of Cockatoo Island.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Management Plan is to guide the outcomes proposed in the Trust’s Comprehensive Plan, to satisfy the requirements of Schedules 5A and 7A of the EPBC Act Regulations, 2000 and to be consistent with the National and Commonwealth Heritage management principles.
This plan aims to provide a long-term vision and a framework for decision making that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate new ideas and change and that is consistent with and does not adversely impact on the statutory heritage values of the place. The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is committed to the conservation of the National and Commonwealth Heritage values of its places, and this commitment is reflected in its Act, its corporate planning documents and processes. This Management Plan, which satisfies sections 341V and 341S and of the EPBC Act 1999, provides the framework and basis for the conservation and management of Cockatoo Island in recognition of its heritage values.
The Trusts’ Heritage Strategy, which details the Trusts’ objectives and strategic approach for the conservation of heritage values, was prepared under section 341ZA of the EPBC Act 1999 and accepted by the Minister. The policies in this plan support the directions of the Heritage Strategy, and indicate the objectives for identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to all generations of the Commonwealth and National Heritage values of the place.
Commencement Date
Notice of this Plan was published in the Government Gazette on 23 June 2010 and the Plan takes effect from that date.
Land to which the Management Plan Applies
All of the land including the bed of the harbour is within Lot 1 DP 549630 and is in the ownership of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Length of the Plan
181 pages
Enabling Legislation
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999
- Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 (Part 5)