Extension of period to submit comments on the proposal to prepare draft management plans for the South-West, North-West, North and Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Networks and the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Administered by Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Legislation au C2016G01331 In force Gazette

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Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Subsection 368(2)

EXTENSION OF PERIOD TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
ON THE PROPOSAL TO PREPARE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST, NORTH-WEST, NORTH AND TEMPERATE EAST COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVE NETWORKS AND THE CORAL SEA COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVE

By notice published on 5 September 2016 members of the public and relevant stakeholders were invited to submit comments on the preparation of draft management plans in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for the:

  • South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
  • North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
  • North Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
  • Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
  • Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

 

Comments were invited until 11.59 pm AEDT 11 October 2016. I have extended this period to 11.59 pm AEDT 31 October 2016 to give all interested parties a further chance to comment if they wish.

 

Individual reserves which make up the networks are listed in the Schedule to this Notice. The South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, for which a management plan is already in effect, is not part of this process.

 

These reserves are in Commonwealth waters, generally beyond 3 nautical miles (5.5 kilometres) from the coast. They are managed by Parks Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth Government; and in conjunction with marine parks in state and territory waters form part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. The system protects and supports a range of habitats and biodiversity values and provides opportunities for recreational and commercial use as appropriate.

 

I invite all interested parties to comment at this stage on what you think I should take into account in preparing the five draft plans for the Commonwealth reserves.

 

On 5 September 2016, the Minister for the Environment and Energy, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, released the reports of the independent Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review and noted the Government’s intention to finalise management plans by mid 2017.

 

The two reports of the independent Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review were the result of significant consultations with local communities and representative bodies to improve on the environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes contained in the management plans made in 2013. The report of the Expert Scientific Panel confirmed the shape and size of the overall marine reserve system was based on the best available science and provided recommendations to continue to increase our knowledge about the biodiversity and values of the system. The report of the Bioregional Advisory Panel contains a range of recommendations on use and zoning options within each network and on management approaches. 

 

I will use the recommendations in the independent review reports and your comments as the basis of the draft management plans. I encourage you to read the reports and provide me your views on the recommendations or provide me with other options you think staff in Parks Australia and I should consider in drafting the management plans. Your comments may relate to all five plans, a single plan, or just to a single reserve—the extent of your comments is up to you.

 

All comments received in response to this notice will be taken into account in preparing draft management plans. 

 

When the draft management plans have been prepared, I will make them publicly available for your further comment and input.

 

How to provide comment

Comments on the proposal to prepare draft management plans and recommendations contained in the Expert Scientific Panel report and Bioregional Advisory Panel report may be sent until 11.59pm AEDT Monday 31 October2016.  Comments must be sent by one of the following means:

 

  1. Email

Comments can be sent to managementplanning.marine@environment.gov.au

2.        Post

Comments can be sent free of charge to:

Marine Reserves Management Planning Comments
Department of the Environment and Energy
Reply Paid 787
Canberra ACT 2601

Please note comments sent after 11.59 AEDT Tuesday 11 October 2016 or to an address other than those listed above may not be taken into account as input to the draft management plans.

Personal information provided to us will be dealt with in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. Our Privacy Policy is available online at: www.environment.gov.au/privacy-policy. Your personal information may be disclosed to the Minister, relevant government agencies and where required by law. Please indicate clearly and give reasons if you would like your comments to be treated as ‘confidential’.

For more information about the reserves and to have your say on the intent to draft marine reserve management plans visit www.parksaustralia.gov.au/marine or call 1800 069 352.

 

Sally Barnes

Director of National Parks

 

Schedule - Commonwealth Marine Reserves for which management plans to be prepared

 

Draft management plans will be prepared for the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve and each of the following Commonwealth Marine Reserve Networks:

 

South-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

Southern Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve 

Western Kangaroo Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Western Eyre Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Murat Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Twilight Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Eastern Recherche Commonwealth Marine Reserve

South-west Corner Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Bremer Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Geographe Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Perth Canyon Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Two Rocks Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Jurien Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Abrolhos Commonwealth Marine Reserve

 

North-west Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

Shark Bay Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Carnarvon Canyon Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Gascoyne Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Montebello Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Dampier Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Eighty Mile Beach Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Roebuck Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Argo-Rowley Terrace Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Kimberley Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Ashmore Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve
Cartier Island Commonwealth Marine Reserve

North Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network

Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Oceanic Shoals Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Arafura Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Arnhem Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Wessel Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Limmen Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Gulf of Carpentaria Commonwealth Marine Reserve

West Cape York Commonwealth Marine Reserve

 

Temperate East Commonwealth Marines Reserve Network

Gifford Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Norfolk Commonwealth Marine Reserve 

Lord Howe Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Central Eastern Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Solitary Islands Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Jervis Commonwealth Marine Reserve

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly matters of national environmental significance, and the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive framework to protect and manage the country’s environment and heritage. The Act is administered by the Parliament of Australia, with the overarching policy objective being to integrate environmental considerations into decision-making processes to ensure sustainable development. The Act provides a mechanism for the creation of marine reserves and the development of management plans to protect marine ecosystems, as evidenced by the recent extension of the public comment period for the draft management plans for several Commonwealth marine reserve networks. This extension allows stakeholders to contribute to the planning process, ensuring that the final plans reflect a broad range of perspectives and considerations.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 applies to the preparation of draft management plans for five Commonwealth marine reserve networks, including the South-west, North-west, North, and Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Networks, as well as the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve. The Act extends to Commonwealth waters, generally beyond 3 nautical miles (5.5 kilometres) from the coast, and these reserves are managed by Parks Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. The Act allows the Minister for the Environment and Energy to invite comments from the public and relevant stakeholders on the draft management plans. The period for submitting comments has been extended to 11.59 pm AEDT on 31 October 2016, to ensure that all interested parties have a chance to provide input. The draft management plans will incorporate the recommendations from the independent Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review reports and comments received from the public. Once the draft plans have been prepared, they will be made publicly available for further comment and input. The Act does not apply to the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, for which a management plan is already in effect.

Key Provisions

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (section 368(2)) provides the framework for the development of management plans for Commonwealth marine reserves. Specifically, the Gazette notice C2016G01331 extends the period for public and stakeholder comments on the draft management plans for the South-west, North-west, North, and Temperate East Commonwealth Marine Reserve Networks, and the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve. This extension allows for additional input until 11:59 pm AEDT on 31 October 2016. The notice lists individual reserves that are part of these networks and clarifies that the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network is not included in this process. The reserves are managed by Parks Australia on behalf of the Commonwealth Government and are part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, which aims to protect habitats, biodiversity values, and facilitate recreational and commercial use where appropriate. The Act imposes obligations on the Minister for the Environment and Energy to consider public and stakeholder comments when preparing the draft management plans. The Minister, in this case, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, has already released the reports of the independent Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review, which were based on consultations with local communities and representative bodies. These reports provide recommendations aimed at improving environmental, social, cultural, and economic outcomes for the marine reserves. The Minister intends to finalise the management plans by mid-2017, taking into account the recommendations from the review reports and public comments. The public is encouraged to read the review reports and provide their views on the recommendations or suggest other options for consideration. There are no explicit offences or penalties mentioned in the notice for failing to comply with the requirements of the EPBC Act or the Gazette notice. However, the Minister's decision to prepare the draft management plans will be influenced by the feedback received from the public and stakeholders. Any significant disregard for the consultation process could potentially impact the effectiveness and acceptance of the management plans once they are finalised. The Gazette notice also clarifies the process for submitting comments, specifying that they must be sent via email or post by the specified deadline to be considered. Personal information provided will be handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles, and individuals can request that their comments be treated as confidential if desired.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.