Commonwealth of Australia
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
Section 327(1)
Extension of the boundaries of wetlands included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance kept under the Ramsar Convention.
I, GREGORY JAMES MANNING, Assistant Secretary, Wetlands Policy and Northern Water Use Branch, delegate for the Minister for the Environment, hereby give notice, pursuant to section 327(1)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), of the extension on 1 September 2015 of the boundary of a wetland included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance kept under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, done at Ramsar on 2 February 1971 (Ramsar Convention):
Narran Lake Nature Reserve
Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site is situated in the north-west of New South Wales, approximately 75 kilometres north-west of Walgett. The boundary has been extended by 3104 hectares to give a total area of 8447 hectares for the Ramsar site.
Geographic coordinates are in degrees, minutes, seconds referenced to the Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA94).
The Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site comprises the following portions of Narran Lake Nature Reserve as gazetted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) as at 28/02/2007:
- the parcels with DP765343, excluding the road reserve in the north east and north west corners of the Nature Reserve
- the western parcel of DP765344
- a portion of Narran Lake Nature Reserve to the west, adjacent to the western boundary of DP765343. The boundary commences from the corner of DP765343 nearest to 147°25'37.499"E 29°45'47.877"S (marked as point A on Annex A), the Ramsar boundary follows the Narran Lake Nature Reserve in a generally western direction to the point nearest to 147°22’18.985” E 29°45’56.750” S (marked as point B on Annex A) where the Ramsar boundary leaves the Nature Reserve boundary and follows the floodplain boundary defined by the extent of hydric soils and floodplain vegetation using ADS40 imagery, in a generally northern direction to where the point nearest to 147°22’8.237” E 29°42’23.354” S meets the Narran Lake Nature Reserve boundary (marked as point C on Annex A). The Ramsar boundary follows the Narran Lake Nature Reserve boundary in a generally northern direction to the point nearest to where 147°22’6.492” E 29°42’10.308” S meets the Narran Lake Nature Reserve boundary (marked as point D on Annex A) and then heads in a generally eastern direction along floodplain boundary as defined by the extent of hydric soils and floodplain vegetation using ADS40 imagery until it again meets the boundary of the cadastral parcel DP765343 at the point nearest to 147° 24’58.352” E 29° 43’5.516” S (marked as point E on Annex A).
- a portion of Narran Lake Nature Reserve adjacent to the east of the parcels listed above, starting at the point on the eastern boundary of DP765343 at the point closest to 147°27’21.579” E 29°42’44.759” S (marked as point F on Annex A), the Ramsar boundary heads in a generally easterly then southerly direction along the floodplain boundary distinguished by the extent of hydric soils and floodplain vegetation using ADS40 meeting the cadastre again on the boundary of the western parcel of DP765344 at the point closest to 147°28’23.242” E 29°43’47.865” S (marked as point G on Annex A).
- a portion of Narran Lake Nature Reserve adjacent to the east of the parcels listed above, starting at the point on the eastern boundary of western parcel of DP765344 at the point closest to 147°28’37.848” E 29°44’5.131” S (marked as point H on Annex A), the Ramsar boundary heads in a generally easterly then southerly direction along the floodplain boundary as distinguished with the ADS40 imagery meeting the cadastre again on the boundary of the western parcel of DP765344 at the point closest to 147°28’41.020” E 29°45’30.253” S (marked as point I on Annex A).
The Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site is identified in the maps at Annex A.
Dated this 3rd day of November 2015
G. Manning
Gregory James Manning
Assistant Secretary
Wetlands Policy and Northern Water Use Branch
Department of the Environment
Notes:
The maps at Annex A have been reduced for the purposes of publication. Copies of the map and further information can be obtained from: www.environment.gov.au/wetlands or wetlandsmail@environment.gov.au.
Annex A Map of the Narran Lake nature Reserve Ramsar site, showing the Ramsar boundary including the extension
Overview
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly with respect to matters of national environmental significance. The Act was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive legal framework that would facilitate the protection and conservation of Australia's unique biodiversity and ecosystems. The Act is administered by the Commonwealth Parliament and seeks to ensure that environmental protection is integrated into decision-making processes at all levels of government. This legislation aims to safeguard Australia's natural heritage and contribute to global environmental conservation efforts, particularly in relation to wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The notification concerning the extension of the boundaries of the Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site, as announced by Gregory James Manning, Assistant Secretary of the Wetlands Policy and Northern Water Use Branch, is an example of how the Act is applied to enhance the protection of significant wetland areas. This extension, which increased the site's total area to 8447 hectares, aligns with the policy objective of the Act to conserve and manage wetlands that are crucial for biodiversity and water resources. By incorporating the expanded area into the Ramsar list, Australia demonstrates its commitment to international environmental standards and the preservation of critical ecosystems.
Scope and Application
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) applies to the conservation and management of places of national environmental significance, including wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Act extends its jurisdiction to any person, entity, or industry involved in activities that may impact these significant sites. The geographic reach of the Act is national, as it applies across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it includes wetlands recognised under international agreements, such as the Ramsar Convention. The Act may have exclusions or exemptions for certain activities if they are authorised by a permit or approval under the Act. The Act may also be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or guidelines, which provide further detail on the implementation and enforcement of the Act. The specific notice issued under section 327(1) of the Act extends the boundaries of the Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site in New South Wales, expanding its total area by 3104 hectares.
Key Provisions
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) contains provisions that enable the extension of the boundaries of wetlands included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Specifically, Section 327(1)(b) of the Act allows the Minister for the Environment to extend the boundaries of such wetlands. In this case, the Assistant Secretary, Wetlands Policy and Northern Water Use Branch, acting on behalf of the Minister, has provided notice of an extension to the boundary of the Narran Lake Nature Reserve Ramsar site in New South Wales, effective from 1 September 2015. The boundary extension covers an additional 3104 hectares, bringing the total area of the Ramsar site to 8447 hectares.
Under the Act, the obligations imposed on parties or entities governed by the legislation include ensuring that any activities within the extended boundaries of the Ramsar site comply with both national and international conservation standards. This extension aims to protect the ecological significance of the wetland, which is recognised under the Ramsar Convention as being of international importance, particularly as a habitat for waterfowl. The extension is intended to provide a broader scope for conservation efforts and management of the wetland's natural resources.
Breaches of the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) can lead to various civil and criminal consequences. For example, unauthorised activities that harm the protected wetland can result in substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The Act empowers authorised officers to take enforcement actions against those who contravene its provisions. Under Section 528, for example, the maximum penalty for a corporation found guilty of an offence involving harm to a listed wetland can be significant, often measured in thousands of Australian dollars, depending on the severity and impact of the breach. Additionally, individuals responsible for such breaches may face personal fines and imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness with which the Act treats non-compliance.