Document
Index
1999-2000 Ministerial Statements
Investing in our Natural and
Cultural Heritage
Chapter 4
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Index |
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The Commonwealth manages protected areas established in those parts of Australia which
come under its direct responsibility, such as the external territories and Australian
waters beyond three nautical miles. Sixteen areas have been declared under the National
Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 comprising six national parks, five national
nature reserves, three marine parks and two botanic gardens. The Commonwealth will provide
$30.4 million in 1999-2000 to manage these areas.
Three of the six Commonwealth national parks (Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta
National Parks in the Northern Territory and more recently Booderee National Park in the
Jervis Bay Territory) are jointly managed with Aboriginal traditional owners through
Boards of Management. Kakadu and Uluru are included on the World Heritage List (see
Chapter 10) and are probably Australia's best known parks. The other three parks are
located in the external territories of Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands in the Indian
Ocean and Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. The Australian National Botanic Gardens in
Canberra is the premier organisation devoted to growing, studying and promoting Australian
native plants.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is managed jointly between the Park's
Aboriginal traditional owners and Parks Australia. The selection of the park as the
starting point for the Olympic torch relay reflects appropriately the national and
international significance of Uluru.
Kakadu National Park is also managed jointly between the Park's Aboriginal traditional
owners and Parks Australia. The park's fourth plan of management which came into effect in
March 1999 outlines the framework for protecting Kakadu's outstanding values over the next
five years through a unique blend of Aboriginal land management skills and modern park
management practices.
Booderee National Park has been managed jointly between the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community
and Parks Australia since 1995. The past year has concentrated on developing the park's
first plan of management under the new joint management arrangements. Finalisation of
plans of management for Booderee National Park, Norfolk Island National Park and a number
of marine protected areas will be a major focus of attention in 1999-2000.
Protected areas including those managed by the Commonwealth are major attractions for the
Australian tourism industry. Around 1.5 million people visit Commonwealth protected
areas in any year, including approximately 220,000 at Kakadu and 340,000 at Uluru-Kata
Tjuta in 1998-99. The heavy rains that devastated parts of eastern Australia in
August 1998 caused damage to roads in Booderee National Park and also forced the prolonged
closure of the main access road to Norfolk Island National Park. Repair of the Norfolk
Island roads will be a major capital works item in 1999-2000.
Contact: Environment Australia, Biodiversity Group -- 02 6274 2201
Biodiversity protection is also provided on other Commonwealth land such as Department of Defence land. The Commonwealth has also made a substantial commitment to marine biodiversity conservation in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (see Chapter 9).
