Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014

Legislation au F2006L04148 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Select Document

Explanatory Statement

Section 366 (3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) requires a Board for a Commonwealth reserve to prepare management plans for the reserve in conjunction with the Director of National Parks (the Director).

The purpose of the Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014 is to describe the philosophy and direction of management for the Park for the next seven years in accordance with the EPBC Act. The Plan enables management to proceed in an orderly way; it helps reconcile competing interests and identifies priorities for the allocation of available resources.

Background

The Kakadu National Park (the Park) is approximately 150 km South East of Darwin. It was declared in three stages between 1979 and 1991 under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975. Stage One was declared on the 5 April 1979, Stage Two was declared on 28 February 1984, and Stage Three was declared progressively on 12 June 1987, 22 November 1989 and 24 June 1991. It is now protected and managed under the EPBC Act.

The Park is ecologically and biologically diverse. Major landforms and habitats within the Park include the sandstone plateau and escarpment, extensive areas of savanna woodlands and open forest, rivers, billabongs, floodplains, mangroves, mudflats, coastal areas and monsoon forests.

The value of the natural and cultural heritage of the Park to the world has been recognised by its inscription on the World Heritage List under the World Heritage Convention. The Park includes a large area that is listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, and many species that occur in the Park are protected under international agreements such as the Bonn Convention for conserving migratory species and Australia’s migratory bird protection agreements with China (CAMBA) and Japan (JAMBA).

Under the EPBC Act the entire Park has been assigned the international World Conservation Union (IUCN) protected area category II - national park.

Structure and content of the management plan

The Management Plan consists of two parts. Part 1 explains the context for managing the Park, including the legal context. Part 2 sets out how the Park will be managed. It has been structured according to the Parks Australia Planning and Performance Assessment Framework. The purpose of the Framework is to achieve consistency and comprehensiveness in the management and conservation within and between reserves. Copies of the Framework are available from the Department of the Environment and Heritage on request.

The Kakadu National Park Management Plan includes six of the Framework’s seven Key Result Areas:

Key Result Area 1 (KRA1): Natural Heritage Management
Key Result Area 2 (KRA2): Cultural Heritage Management
Key Result Area 3 (KRA3): Joint Management
Key Result Area 4 (KRA4): Visitor Management and Park Use
Key Result Area 5 (KRA5): Stakeholders and Partnerships
Key Result Area 6 (KRA6): Business Management

NOTE: Key Result Area 7 (Biodiversity Knowledge Management) is not relevant to this Management Plan as it applies explicitly to other responsibilities of the Director.

Within the Management Plan, each chapter covers the protection and management of the various aspects of the Park’s values and uses:

Background
Introductory provisions
IUCN category
Joint management
Looking after country and culture
Visitor management and Park use
Stakeholders and partnerships
Business management

Most sections within the Management Plan’s chapters are structured in the following way:

Our Aim (describes the desired result of Park management activity)
Measuring how well we are meeting our aim
Background (explains why the section is needed)
Issues (indicating the key factors to consider)
What we are going to do
- Policies
- Actions

Consultation

On 15 August 2002, consistent with the EPBC Act, notices were published in the Government Gazette, the Australian newspaper, the Northern Territory News and placed on the Department of the Environment and Heritage’s website, inviting comments until 31 October 2002 related to the preparation of the draft fifth management plan for the Park. Thirty two public submissions were received.

Paragraphs 368(3)(c)(ii) and (iii) of the EPBC Act require the Director and the Board (established under section 377 of the EPBC Act) to take account of the interests of the traditional owners of any indigenous people’s land in the reserve and the interests of any other indigenous persons interested in the reserve. To facilitate this, 33 participatory planning meetings were held involving over 100 people. The Northern Land Council (NLC) also attended most of these meetings. In addition, various stakeholders were consulted during the plan’s preparation.

In accordance with paragraph 368(1)(b) of the EPBC Act the Director and Board prepared a draft plan which was released for public comment on 15 February 2006. Invitations to comment were published in the Government Gazette, the Australian newspaper, Northern Territory News, Jabiru Rag, and on the Department of the Environment and Heritage’s website. Draft Plans were sent to various stakeholders with an invitation to comment (including those providing comments for the preparation of the draft Plan). Draft plans were also provided to local public libraries and the Department of the Environment and Heritage’s Community Information Unit.

Thirty seven submissions were received and in accordance with paragraph 368(1)(e) of the EPBC Act, the Director and Board considered the submissions and subsequently amended some aspects of the Plan. On 6 September 2006, consistent with requirements under subsection 370(1) of the EPBC Act, the Board agreed for the Director to give the Minister the Plan for approval. The Plan was approved on 7 December 2006.

This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

The Plan will commence on 1 January 2007.

Overview

The Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014 was introduced to address the need for a structured and comprehensive management approach for Kakadu National Park, one of Australia's most significant natural and cultural heritage sites. Enacted under Section 366(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) by the Board for a Commonwealth reserve, in conjunction with the Director of National Parks, the Plan was created to guide the orderly management of the Park, reconcile competing interests, and allocate resources effectively over the next seven years. This legislative instrument, approved by the Minister on 7 December 2006 and commencing on 1 January 2007, is designed to adhere to the EPBC Act and facilitate the ongoing protection and sustainable use of the Park’s diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage, taking into account the interests of traditional owners and other indigenous stakeholders.

Scope and Application

The Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014 applies to the management and conservation of the Kakadu National Park, a Commonwealth reserve managed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This Act requires the Board for a Commonwealth reserve to prepare management plans for the reserve in conjunction with the Director of National Parks. The Plan is designed to guide the management of the Park for the next seven years, detailing the philosophy, direction, and priorities for resource allocation to reconcile competing interests and ensure orderly management. The Plan applies to all entities and persons involved in managing, using, or visiting the Park, including stakeholders, indigenous traditional owners, and visitors. It is applicable across the entire Park, which is located approximately 150 km southeast of Darwin and spans various landforms and habitats including sandstone plateau, savanna woodlands, rivers, and monsoon forests. The Plan includes six of the seven Key Result Areas outlined in the Parks Australia Planning and Performance Assessment Framework, excluding Biodiversity Knowledge Management. The Plan's geographic reach encompasses the entire Park, which has been inscribed on the World Heritage List and is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Plan was developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders and traditional owners, including 33 participatory planning meetings and public submissions. The approved Plan commenced on 1 January 2007 and is subject to periodic review and amendment to reflect changing circumstances and priorities.

Key Provisions

The Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014, as required by section 366(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), lays out the philosophy and direction for managing the Park for the next seven years. This plan provides a framework for orderly management, reconciling competing interests, and prioritising resource allocation. It is structured according to the Parks Australia Planning and Performance Assessment Framework, and includes six of the seven Key Result Areas, focusing on natural and cultural heritage management, joint management, visitor management, stakeholder engagement, and business management. The plan also outlines specific aims, policies, and actions for each area, providing a comprehensive guide for the park's management. The Act imposes several obligations on the Board and the Director of National Parks. Under section 368(3)(c)(ii) and (iii) of the EPBC Act, they are required to consider the interests of traditional owners and other indigenous persons interested in the reserve. This involves extensive consultation, as evidenced by the 33 participatory planning meetings held with over 100 participants, including representatives from the Northern Land Council. Additionally, the Director and the Board must prepare a draft management plan and release it for public comment, as outlined in section 368(1)(b) of the EPBC Act. They are also required to consider the public submissions received and amend the plan accordingly, before submitting it to the Minister for approval as per section 370(1) of the EPBC Act. Breach of the obligations outlined in the EPBC Act can lead to various civil and criminal consequences. However, the specific penalties for non-compliance with the Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2007-2014 are not detailed in the explanatory statement. Generally, under the EPBC Act, offences can result in substantial fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as any relevant state or territory laws. The failure to consider the interests of traditional owners and indigenous persons, or to properly consult with stakeholders, could lead to legal challenges and reputational damage for the Board and the Director.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Consultation Requirements

Interactions

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.

Legislation content