Media release
24 November 2009
Legislative changes that come into effect
today will strengthen the long-term protection
of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park while
cutting red tape.
“The Great Barrier Reef
is one of Australia's and the world's most
significant environmental assets,” Environment
Minister Peter Garrett said.
“It is one of the largest
and best protected marine areas on the globe,
but it faces many threats not least of all
from dangerous climate change, and safeguarding
it for the future is essential.
“The changes that come
into effect today will not only ensure the
sustainable long-term use of the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park, they will streamline the
administrative process, and refine the compliance
system.
“While activities in
the marine park are already tightly controlled,
the changes provide for more flexible and
stronger investigation and enforcement tools
that can be tailored to circumstances, under
a single investigation system.”
The Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park has also become the eighth trigger
for the national environment law-the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999.
“The marine park was
already protected under national environment
law because of its status as a world and
national heritage-listed area,” Mr Garrett
said.
“But now, any activity
in the marine park that is likely to have
a significant impact on the environment,
or any activity outside the marine park
that is likely to have a significant impact
on the environment of the marine park or
other nationally protected matters will
require the approval of the Federal Environment
Minister.
“Permits under the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 may still
be needed for activities within the marine
park, and most activities will not need
my approval.
“But importantly, where
approval is required under both pieces of
legislation only one application will now
be needed, making the process simpler. Environmental
impact assessment procedures under both
acts have been combined, removing duplication,
cutting red tape and streamlining the process.”
The types of activities
likely to need approval under the EPBC Act
include: major new pontoons, jetties and
port developments; aquaculture facilities;
tourism developments, including marinas
and floating hotels; coastal large-scale
subdivisions with potential runoff affecting
the marine park; tourist resorts; major
coastal infill onshore spoil dumping; and
new industry with significant marine discharge.
The longstanding prohibition
on mining in the Great Barrier Reef region
has been incorporated into the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Act 1975, capturing this
protection in one piece of legislation.
“Together with measures
such as the $200 million reef rescue plan,
and action on climate change, today's legislative
changes will ensure the marine park remains
a model for marine management and conservation,”
Mr Garrett said.
For more information go to www.environment.gov.au/epbc/index.html
