EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
MINISTER FOR THE ARTS. SPORT. THE ENVIRONMENT TOURISM AND TERRITORIES
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations (Amendment)
1990 No. 9
Issued under the authority of the Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories
The prime purpose of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations (Amendment) is to close a loophole that has been found to exist by a Magistrate. This loophole can allow some commercial vessels to operate without a Marine Park permit. This amendment is necessary because an appeal against the Magistrates decision will take several months and some areas of the Cairns Section are at risk from severe environmental disturbance in the absence of controls imposed by the permit system.
This amendment is intended as a transitional measure pending the introduction of a new Zoning Plan for the Cairns Section of the Marine Park.
Details of the proposed amendment to the regulations follow:
A new regulation 13 is to be inserted to limit to 20 the number of people that may be discharged each day from a vessel without requiring a permit. This regulation will only apply to the Cairns Section of the Marine Park. The operators of vessels that carry more than 20 people and which already have a permit to:
(a) conduct a tourist program; or
(b) undertake research or construction; or
(c) conduct an educational program;
(under paragraph 9.2(f) of the Cairns Section Zoning Plan)will not require another permit under this regulation.
The 20 person limit should not affect private boat owners.
Authorised by
the Minister for the Arts, Sport,
the Environment, Tourism and Territories