South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au F2018L00326 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

Explanatory Statement

 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

 

South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018

 

 

Background

The South-west Marine Parks Network (the South-west Network) consists of 14 Commonwealth marine parks that lie off the coast of Western and South Australia. The Commonwealth reserves that form the South-west Network were declared by Proclamation  under section 344 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) on 12 December 2013 as amended by a Proclamation made under section 350 of the Act on 9 October 2017 to change the name of the reserves from “Commonwealth Marine Reserve” to ‘Marine Park”.

 

Management of the South-west Network is the function of the Director of National Parks (the Director) under the EPBC Act. 

 

The South-west Network includes the following marine parks:

 

  • Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park
  • Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park
  • Western Eyre Marine Park
  • Murat Marine Park
  • Great Australian Bight Marine Park
  • Twilight Marine Park
  • Eastern Recherche Marine Park
  • South-west Corner Marine Park
  • Bremer Marine Park
  • Geographe Marine Park
  • Perth Canyon Marine Park
  • Two Rocks Marine Park
  • Jurien Marine Park
  • Abrolhos Marine Park

 

The marine parks of the South-west Network were established to protect and maintain marine biodiversity, contribute to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) and to help ensure the long-term ecological viability of Australia’s marine ecosystems. The conservation values that the marine parks help to protect include:

 

  • ecosystems, habitats, communities, species and sea-floor features found within the provincial bioregions of the South-west Marine Region
  • ecological features with high biodiversity value, species richness and endemism
  • cultural and heritage values
  • a number of species listed as endangered or vulnerable under Commonwealth legislation or international agreements
  • habitats important for protected species

 

Overview of the Legislative instrument

The EPBC Act and associated Regulations prohibit certain activities from occurring in the South-west Network and other Commonwealth reserves unless permitted by a management plan prepared in accordance with Section 368 of the EPBC Act. A management plan is therefore an enabling document. It allows management, recreational and commercial activities to occur that would otherwise be restricted under EPBC legislation.

 

The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018 also sets out programs and actions that the Director will implement during the life of the plan to work toward the dual objective of biodiversity conservation and ecologically sustainable use within the South-west network.

 

Structure and Content of the Management Plan

The Management Plan consists of two Chapters, each with two parts and five schedules:

  • Chapter 1 Introduction includes:
    • Part 1 Managing Australian Marine Parks outlines the context and approach to managing marine parks.  
    • Part 2 The South-west Marine Parks Network provides a summary of the South-west Network including natural, cultural, heritage, social and economic values, the pressures facing the Network and the management programs and actions to protect values and manage pressures.
  • Chapter 2 Management and prescriptions includes:
    • Part 3 Zoning details the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories assigned to each marine park and zone, and provides zone objectives.
    • Part 4 Managing activities provides the rules about what activities can and cannot occur within zones, and outlines the assessment and decision-making processes and the types of authorisations (permits, class approvals, commercial activity licences and leases).
    • Glossary lists terms and words used in the plan.
  • Five Schedules
    • Schedule 1 Summary of legislative and policy contexts includes the legislative and policy context for managing marine parks with respect to the EPBC Act and EPBC Regulations, and other relevant legislation and international agreements.
    • Schedule 2 South-west Network overview and values provides a summary of the marine parks as proclaimed, a description of values and a map for each park.
    • Schedule 3 Environmental features used in design of the South-west Network describes the environmental features used to identify areas for protection in the marine parks. These include bioregions, depth ranges, seafloor features and key ecological features.
    • Schedule 4 South-west Network marine parks and zone boundary descriptions lists the coordinates of each marine park and zone.
    • Schedule 5 Supporting information lists references used in preparing this plan.

 

Consultation

On 5 September 2016, in accordance with Section 368 of the EPBC Act, a Notice of Intent was published in the Australian Government Gazette, The Australian and relevant State circulating newspapers and placed on the Department of the Environment and Energy’s website. The Notice of Intent invited comment on the Director of National Park’s proposal to prepare draft management plans for the South-west, North-west, North, Temperate East Networks and the Coral Sea Marine Park. Invitations to comment were also provided to Native Title representative bodies, peak Indigenous representative bodies, Native Title holders, Indigenous research institutions and Indigenous ranger organisations interested in the marine parks of the South-west Network.

 

This comment period closed on 31 October 2016 with a total of 54 332 submissions received. The comments received were considered in preparing the Draft Management Plan.

 

The draft Management Plan for the South-west Network was released for public comment on 21 July 2017. As required under the EPBC Act, the Director published a notice inviting comments on the draft Management Plan in the Australian Government Gazette, The Australian and relevant State circulating newspapers and on the department’s website. Copies of the draft Management Plan were made available through the Department’s Community Information Unit and on the Department’s website. Comments on the draft plan closed on 20 September 2017. A total of 82,877 submissions were received.

 

The Minister considered all comments received in approving the Management Plan.

 

Regulation Impact Statement

In accordance with requirements for new regulatory instruments, a Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared.

 

Period of Operation

The Management Plan will come into effect on 1 July 2018. It will cease to have effect on 30 June 2028, unless revoked earlier and replaced by a new Management Plan.

 

Legislative Instrument

The Management Plan is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

 

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018

 

 

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

The EPBC Act and associated Regulations prohibit certain activities from occurring in the South-west Network and other Commonwealth reserves unless permitted by a management plan prepared in accordance with Section 368 of the EPBC Act. A management plan is therefore an enabling document. It allows management, recreational and commercial activities to occur that would otherwise be restricted under EPBC legislation.

 

The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018 also sets out programs and actions that the Director will implement during the life of the plan to work toward the dual objective of biodiversity conservation and ecologically sustainable use within the South-west network.

 

Human Rights Implications

The Management Plan engages with the following human rights:

 

Right to self-determination

Although there is no universally accepted agreement on what is required to meet this right, it is generally accepted that it includes allowing people to pursue their economic, cultural and social development. The Management Plan promotes this right through consultation and consideration of stakeholders views on their economic, cultural and social aspirations for marine parks, and in particular contains the Indigenous engagement program and actions that support involvement of marine users and Indigenous people in managing the South-west Network. 

 

Right to freedom of movement

In order to achieve the objectives of the Management Plan it is necessary to restrict some access and uses that may impact on the natural and cultural values in some marine parks. This may involve the right to freedom of movement; however, this is not an absolute right and may be subject to permissible limitations where there is a legitimate objective, in this case the conservation and protection of natural and cultural values into the future, and the response is reasonable, necessary and proportionate. Limitations on access and use of marine parks under the Management Plan are reasonable and considered responses to the potential threats posed to achieving the objectives of the Management Plan.

 

The Management Plan places some limits on innocent passage through the territorial sea and freedom of navigation through the exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  The limitations apply to protect the environmental values and habitats of certain areas and are consistent with Australia's rights and obligations under UNCLOS; and also do not affect vessels responding to circumstances of force majeure or distress (eg. due to extreme weather) or for the purpose of rendering assistance to other persons and vessels in danger or distress.

 

Right to privacy

The Management Plan allows the Director in some instances to require users of the marine parks to provide information about the activities they conduct within the marine parks. This potentially includes commercial-in-confidence information such as the location of the activity or number of people undertaking an activity. The right to privacy is not absolute, and any requests for information are used to inform future management arrangements. The information collected will be handled and managed in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy legislation.

 

Right to enjoy and benefit from culture

The right to enjoy and benefit from culture includes allowing people to take part in cultural life and enjoy the benefits of scientific progress. The Management Plan promotes this right by seeking to involve interested stakeholders, the community and Indigenous people in management actions through recognising native title interests and by implementing a number of principles, programs and actions. The Management Plan may limit this right in some instances where proposed activities are not consistent with the primary objective of the Management Plan to protect and conserve biodiversity and other natural and cultural values. However, these instances are expected to be rare, and will be carefully considered prior to a decision being undertaken. Section 8 of the EPBC Act does not affect the operation of the Native Title Act 1993 including of s.211 of that Act, which allows native title holders to hunt (and undertake other activities) in the exercise of native title rights without a permit or licence.   

 

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 and to the extent that it may limit any human rights, those limitations are reasonable, necessary and proportionate.

Overview

The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018 was enacted to provide a structured framework for the management of the South-west Marine Parks Network, which comprises 14 Commonwealth marine parks along the coast of Western and South Australia. This legislative instrument was introduced to address the need for comprehensive management plans to allow for authorised activities in marine parks, which are otherwise prohibited under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, aims to protect and conserve Australia's biodiversity and heritage, and the management plan supports this policy objective by balancing biodiversity conservation with ecologically sustainable use of marine resources. The plan sets out programs and actions for the Director of National Parks to implement, ensuring the protection of marine biodiversity and cultural values while permitting authorised activities. The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018 was developed in accordance with Section 368 of the EPBC Act, which mandates the preparation of such plans for Commonwealth marine reserves. The plan was subject to extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, and was reviewed based on feedback from over 137,000 submissions. The plan not only facilitates permitted activities within the marine parks but also outlines measures to engage Indigenous communities and protect their cultural heritage. Furthermore, the plan considers international human rights obligations, ensuring that any limitations on human rights are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate to the conservation objectives of the marine parks.

Scope and Application

The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018, operating under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), applies to the 14 Commonwealth marine parks that constitute the South-west Network off the coasts of Western and South Australia. These parks, including the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park, Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park, and others, are managed by the Director of National Parks to ensure the protection and maintenance of marine biodiversity, contributing to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. The plan serves as an enabling document under the EPBC Act, allowing specified activities that would otherwise be prohibited in Commonwealth reserves, and outlines the dual objective of biodiversity conservation and ecologically sustainable use within the South-west Network. The plan is designed to be compatible with human rights, considering stakeholder views and aspirations, while also implementing necessary restrictions to protect natural and cultural values. This legislative instrument will be in effect from 1 July 2018 until 30 June 2028, subject to earlier revocation and replacement. The Management Plan sets out the context and approach to managing marine parks, including the zoning categories assigned to each marine park and zone, and provides rules about permitted and prohibited activities. The plan also outlines the assessment and decision-making processes for permits and other authorisations necessary for certain activities within the South-west Network. The plan’s geographic reach encompasses the territorial waters and the exclusive economic zones of Western and South Australia, with provisions that align with Australia's international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The plan does not affect the operation of the Native Title Act 1993, which allows native title holders to engage in hunting and other activities in the exercise of native title rights without a permit or licence.

Key Provisions

The South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018, as a legislative instrument, primarily outlines the management provisions for the South-west Marine Parks Network, a collection of 14 marine parks along the coasts of Western and South Australia (Section 368). It provides a framework for managing, recreational, and commercial activities within these parks, which would otherwise be prohibited under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) unless permitted by the plan. This plan also sets forth the dual objectives of biodiversity conservation and ecologically sustainable use for the South-west Network, guiding the Director of National Parks in implementing various programs and actions throughout the plan's duration. The Management Plan imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. Key among these are the requirements for consultation with stakeholders, including Indigenous groups, native title holders, and other interested parties, to ensure their views and aspirations are considered in the planning and management process (Section 368). Furthermore, the plan outlines specific rules and zoning categories for different activities within the marine parks, establishing clear guidelines for permitted and prohibited activities to protect the marine ecosystem and cultural heritage values. The Director is also tasked with implementing a number of programs and actions aimed at achieving the plan's objectives, including conservation efforts, monitoring, and enforcement measures. Failure to comply with the provisions of the South-west Marine Parks Network Management Plan 2018 can result in various civil and criminal consequences. The EPBC Act includes provisions for imposing penalties on individuals or entities that engage in unauthorised activities within the marine parks. The maximum penalties can include substantial fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. Additionally, breaches of the plan's provisions may lead to revocation of permits or licenses, further enforcement actions, and potential legal proceedings to address non-compliance. The plan's objectives and requirements are designed to ensure the long-term ecological viability of Australia’s marine ecosystems and protect the significant biodiversity, cultural, and heritage values within the South-west Network.

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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.