Document
Index
1999-2000 Ministerial Statements
Investing in our Natural and
Cultural Heritage
Chapter 9
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Document
Index |
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On 23 December 1998 the Government released Australia's Oceans Policy--the first
comprehensive, national plan to protect and manage Australia's oceans.
Under the Oceans Policy, the Government will implement new integrated and ecosystem-based
planning and management arrangements for our oceans through the development of regional
marine plans. The plans will be based on large marine ecosystems and will promote
ecosystem health and integrity through the integration of economic, environmental, social
and cultural requirements in accommodating multiple ocean uses. State and Territory
Governments will be invited to participate in the regional marine planning process which
will also provide the opportunity to ensure complementary planning across Commonwealth and
State jurisdictions.
The first regional marine plan will be developed to cover the south-eastern region of
Australia's marine jurisdiction and will include areas within the limits of Australia's
Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent claimable areas of continental shelf. Its boundaries
are likely to include waters off the south east of Australia, adjacent to south-eastern
New South Wales, Victoria, eastern South Australia, and Tasmania, including Macquarie
Island. A regional marine plan steering committee with non-government and government
interests will oversee development of the plan.
Initial funding of $30 million over three years has been allocated to implementation
of Australia's Oceans Policy (with a further $20 million to come from Natural Heritage
Trust funds, subject to the sale of the next tranche of Telstra). Funding will be for
regional marine planning development, marine environment protection, marine protected area
development and national secretariat and coordination.
| Box 9.1: Implementation of Australia's Oceans
Policy--Major Actions during 1999 Australia's Oceans Policy is targeted to give early tangible results. A number of major actions are required to implement the policy and drive the regional marine planning process. The National Oceans Ministerial Board has been established. The Board is comprised of Commonwealth Ministers responsible for the environment (Chair), industry, resources, fisheries, science, tourism and shipping. The primary function of the Board will be to oversee the regional marine planning process. The Board will develop the scope and timetable for regional marine plans and ultimately approve each plan. The National Oceans Office will also be established before the end of 1998-1999 within the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage. The office will support the National Oceans Ministerial Board, the National Oceans Advisory Group and the regional marine plan steering committees. It will provide secretariat and technical support and programme delivery, in consultation with other Commonwealth agencies. The National Oceans Advisory Group will be set up in mid 1999. The group is comprised predominantly of members with non-government interests to provide advice to the National Oceans Ministerial Board on the implementation of the oceans policy. A process to develop the Regional Marine Plan for the south-eastern Australian marine jurisdiction will commence in mid 1999. A Regional Marine Plan Steering Committee will oversee development of this plan. The steering committee will comprise key non-government and government stakeholders from each of the jurisdictions involved. A detailed implementation schedule for Australia's Oceans Policy will also be finalised in mid 1999. As well, the Government will hold a National Oceans Forum in late 1999 to promote the implementation of Australia's Oceans Policy. A broad national cross section of those with a stake in the management of our oceans will participate along with members of the National Oceans Ministerial Board. |
The Coasts and Cleans Seas programmes provide funding to address major marine,
estuarine and coastal management issues. Coasts and Clean Seas projects are already
helping to achieve Oceans Policy goals by providing funding to address important issues
such as land-based sources of marine pollution, introduced marine pests, coastal
degradation, fish habitat rehabilitation and marine species protection.
Under the ten Coasts and Clean Seas programmes the Government will provide
$28.8 million from the Natural Heritage Trust and other expenditure during 1999-2000.
The goal is to accelerate activities in the national interest to achieve the conservation,
sustainable use and repair of Australia's coastal and marine environments.
The emphasis of Coasts and Clean Seas is on partnerships. Communities, governments and
industry all have a role to play as marine and coastal management is a shared
responsibility. Funding is provided to community groups, water management authorities,
regional organisations, scientific organisations and State, Territory and local
governments.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1418
Point and diffuse sources of wastewater and stormwater pollution associated with activities such as urban development and poor catchment management are major causes of reduced water quality in estuaries along the coast.
Box 9.2: Ulladulla Tea Tree Trial--Effluent Re-use StudyIn 1998-99 an innovative pilot project for effluent reuse was set up in Ulladulla with
support from the Clean Seas Programme and further contributions from the Shoalhaven
Council and other proponents. |
Under Coasts and Clean Seas, the Commonwealth Government will provide
$13.2 million during 1999-2000 to directly address wastewater and stormwater
pollution sources. The programme has two elements, a publicly advertised grants component
for projects up to $250,000; and a Commonwealth component for projects of national
significance. The programme is focused on providing funds for on-ground work using
best-available or innovative approaches to wastewater management including reuse. Projects
that can be used as demonstration models in similar locations around Australia are
particularly encouraged. All three spheres of government (Commonwealth, State and local),
industry, water authorities, the community and scientific organisations are the
programme's major stakeholders.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1684
Coastcare is the community cornerstone of Coasts and Clean Seas. During 1999-2000,
$5.4 million will be provided by the Commonwealth Government to enhance Coastcare's
achievements in coastal and marine management and protection. The programme provides
opportunities and resources for community groups to undertake coastal management projects
such as dune stabilisation, coastal habitat protection, environmental awareness, marine
assessment and flora and fauna surveys. Commonwealth, State and local government all
cooperate to support Coastcare groups and projects that are funded jointly by the
Commonwealth and the States.
In 1999-2000 the network of Coastcare facilitators around Australia will increase from 23
to 26 funded by the Commonwealth Government. This network provides essential advice and
support to those community groups working to protect and repair the coast.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1490
Box 9.3: Communities Protecting Fringe ReefsA project titled Fringe Reef Monitoring in the Whitsunday Islands, was one of
nearly 400 projects funded under Coastcare in 1998-99. Local stakeholders and volunteers
developed this project to address reef damage in the Whitsunday Islands. Volunteers have
assessed anchor damage, undertaken reef assessments, installed marker buoys and moorings,
and are continuing to monitor the progress of these efforts. |
During 1999-2000, $1.8 million will be provided under Coasts and Clean Seas for
the protection of marine species. Significant funding has been identified for cetacean
proposals that complement Australia's objectives at the International Whaling Commission.
A number of other proposals have been approved under the local and Commonwealth components
of the programme. These include proposals dealing with seals, dugong, sea turtles,
seabirds, and sharks.
The Marine Species Protection Programme has several objectives:
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1512
The Capacity Building Programme utilises a range of measures to improve the coastal management skills and awareness of decision-makers from industry, business, government and the community. These measures include the development of:
In 1999-2000 $600,000 will be provided under Coasts and Clean Seas for the Capacity Building Programme.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1906
The Commonwealth has committed $1.4 million during 1999-2000 under Coasts and
Clean Seas for the Coastal and Marine Planning Programme.
Through quality planning, the Coastal and Marine Planning Programme aims to improve the
management of potential and existing pressures in the coastal zone. Pressures include
increased recreational use, expanding urban development, or increased port and marine
activity. These pressures can lead to negative environmental impacts such as reduction in
water quality, reduced fish-breeding environments, and reduced water bird habitats.
The Coastal and Marine Planning Programme aims to identify and deal with impediments to
quality planning in targeted coastal regions. Strategies include changes to local planning
instruments, protocols between managing agencies and community participation in the
planning process. Coastal and marine planning projects managed under the programme cover
over 33 per cent of the coastline. These areas are populated by some
90 per cent of Australia's coastal population (living in local government areas
abutting coasts and estuaries).
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1636
A sound understanding of the significant threats to coastal environments is necessary
if coastal managers are going to be able to determine whether the use of the coastal zone
is sustainable. The Commonwealth Government will provide $700,000 during 1999-2000 for the
Coastal Monitoring Programme to assist coastal managers and the wider community in
identifying significant threats to key coastal environments and habitats and, over time,
in assessing the effectiveness of policies designed to protect them.
The monitoring programme funds a range of projects through both a publicly advertised and
Commonwealth component grant process. For example, in 1998-99 $150,000 was allocated to
map seagrass meadows, establish key monitoring sites and train local community groups in
seagrass monitoring in the Great Sandy Region of Queensland. Priorities for the programme
in 1999-2000 include assessing seagrass loss, water quality in estuaries and coastal
lakes, mangrove and salt marsh loss in developed areas, eutrophication and coastal reefs.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1928
The Commonwealth expects to commit $900,000 during 1999-2000 under Coasts and Clean
Seas Introduced Marine Pests Programme to address the impacts of exotic pest species that
breach existing quarantine barriers on the marine environment. The programme supports
actions that contribute to the Government's commitment in Australia's Oceans Policy to
implement a national incursion management system for introduced marine pests.
In 1998-99 the programme provided substantial support for a nationally coordinated
response by Northern Territory and Commonwealth agencies, research and industry bodies to
the first outbreak of the serious marine pest, the black striped mussel, in Darwin. The
outbreak was largely contained in Darwin and the Commonwealth is examining ongoing
commitments to monitoring, legislative reviews and emergency response policies to ensure
coordinated national rapid response to future marine pest outbreaks.
In addition to the Introduced Marine Pests Programme, the Commonwealth is also funding
essential research and ballast water management programmes to counter the threats to the
marine environment posed by introduced exotic pests. Ballast water from ships is a major
vector for the introduction of exotic marine pests. The Australian Quarantine and
Inspection Service (AQIS) is the leading Commonwealth agency for all matters concerning
the management of ballast water, including barrier control measures.
Australia leads the world in ballast water management issues. The current development of a
risk-assessment-based Decision Support System (DSS) for management of ballast water and
hull fouling introductions is a world first. In addition, the shipping industry and bulk
exporters, and other key stakeholders, have agreed to the introduction of a levy on
shipping which is scheduled to raise $1 million per annum to fund the Strategic
Ballast Water Research and Development Programme during 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
Improved ballast water management arrangements will be achieved through the implementation
of the Australian Ballast Water Management Strategy, and application of the outcomes of
the Strategic Ballast Water Research and Development Programme. The Research and
Development Programme is focused on developing a risk-assessment-based DSS for use as a
management tool by AQIS and other relevant authorities in Australian ports. The DSS will
provide an assessment of the risk of a particular vessel voyage based on the
characteristics of the port of uptake, ballast water treatment undertaken en-route, and
the characteristics of the port of discharge. The Research and Development Programme will
also develop methods for treating ships' ballast water and examine hull-fouling issues.
The third major Commonwealth initiative to combat introduced marine pests is the CSIRO
Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests (CRIMP). CRIMP undertakes strategic
research to understand the number, distribution, impact and possible management options to
combat introduced marine pests. In 1999-2000 CRIMP will complete a national survey of
Australia's major ports and document the scale of the marine pest `problem', undertake a
world-first study on genetic and ecological approaches to marine pest management which
will seek natural parasites and predators, and collaborate internationally on projects
examining the impacts of major pest species. CRIMP also provides the biological scientific
support for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service's decision support system,
and provides advice to Environment Australia on options to deal with pest incursions.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1486
Contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia -- 02 6272 4975
Contact: CSIRO -- 03 6232 5222
An initial action under Australia's Oceans Policy has been to provide $7 million
over three years to resource conservation assessments of prospective Commonwealth marine
protected areas (MPAs). The funding will also provide for consultative processes in the
establishment, planning and subsequent management of the new MPAs.
The development of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA)
is one of the Government's key marine priorities. The Commonwealth will provide
$1.4 million during 1999-2000 through the Marine Protected Areas Programme for
development of marine protected areas in State, Territory and Commonwealth waters.
Projects for 1999-2000 will be designed specifically to help expand the existing system of
marine parks and reserves. These will include habitat survey, community consultation,
planning and pre-declaration projects, and development of a number of key national
projects designed to address issues across all jurisdictions.
A Strategic Plan of Action for the NRSMPA has been prepared through ANZECC. The plan sets
out priorities for the Commonwealth, States and the Northern Territory for the next three
years for developing and understanding the NRSMPA.
The Commonwealth Government is pursuing declarations of marine protected areas in
Commonwealth waters. In addition to the Tasmanian Seamounts, investigations are being
carried out in the Macquarie Island, Heard and McDonald Islands, Lord Howe Island and
Cartier Island and Hibernia Reef regions, with a view to establishing marine protected
areas. Conservation and resource use, including use by extractive industries, will be
accommodated, where appropriate, within multiple-use marine reserve arrangements. The
primary aim will be the long term conservation of identified biodiversity values.
Box 9.4: Tasmanian SeamountsThe Tasmanian Seamounts are a distinct geological feature within Australian waters.
They include around 70 submerged mountains, approximately 170km south of Tasmania. They
rise from water depths of between 1000 and 2000 metres from the sea floor, and are 200 to
500 metres high and several kilometres across at their base. A survey conducted by CSIRO
discovered that the seamounts host a rich biodiversity and support a distinct bottom
dwelling community of animals, any of which are unique to the Tasmanian Seamounts. CSIRO
reviewed the likely impact of trawling for orange roughy on the seamount fauna and
recommended that the area become a permanent marine protected area. |
Environment Australia and the Australian Petroleum, Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) have signed an agreement to increase and improve communication and cooperation. This cooperation is being facilitated through an annual work plan. Among other institutions, APPEA, Environment Australia and the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management have announced jointly their intention to work towards the development of a multiple-use conservation strategy to protect environmental and heritage values of Commonwealth waters surrounding Montebello and Barrow Islands off the North West Shelf of Western Australia. This initiative may provide a model for cross-jurisdictional management of multiple objectives in the marine environment.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1759
The Marine Waste Reception Facilities Programme, with funding of $2.5 million over three years, aims to improve water quality at ports, marinas and harbours, and increase awareness of marine waste reception requirements through:
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1412
The Australian Coastal Atlas (ACA) is a national initiative being facilitated by the Environmental Resource Information Network (ERIN) of Environment Australia. The Government will provide $360,000 during 1999-2000 for the project. The atlas is a Geographic Information System (GIS) that provides spatial coastal information via the Internet for use by the community. The ACA will be a source for maps and will allow users to gain access to existing coastal information relating to their specific geographic and subject interests. A wide range of government, community and industry groups nationwide are involved in the ACA as both users and data suppliers.
Contact: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group -- 02 6274 1059
The Fisheries Action Programme aims to protect and restore fishery habitats in
freshwater, estuarine and marine environments and to raise awareness of associated issues,
by encouraging community participation, research, and facilitating community projects.
Some $2.3 million has been allocated from Coasts and Clean Seas to support the marine
component of the Fisheries Action Programme during 1999-2000. Projects undertaken by the
programme will help to address fisheries and aquatic environment issues such as aquatic
pest control, fisheries habitat rehabilitation and the development of sustainable fishing
practices and management plans. Rivercare is providing $1.1 million to support the
riverine component of the programme in 1999-2000 (see Chapter 6).
Contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia -- 02 6272 4813
The National Oil Spill Atlas is being developed through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) with the active participation of the States and the Commonwealth. The atlas will expand the current State-based coastal resource atlas to provide a national uniform database system for oil spill incidents to protect Australia's coastal environments.
Contact: Australian Maritime Safety Authority -- 02 6279 5680
Australian Surveying Land Information Group (AUSLIG) is responsible for defining Australia's marine jurisdictions in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and provides technical advice to government agencies to assist in the administration, surveillance and protection of Australia's ocean territory. AUSLIG is developing the Australian Maritime Boundaries Information System (AMBIS) to satisfy these requirements. Work undertaken by AUSLIG will be instrumental to implementing Australia's Oceans Policy.
Contact: Australian Surveying Land Information Group -- 02 6201 4348
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is responsible for managing one of the
world's premier natural resources. This Commonwealth statutory authority, in partnership
with Commonwealth and Queensland Government agencies, undertakes a wide range of functions
to ensure that the conservation and world heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef are
preserved for future generations. In 1999-2000 the Commonwealth will provide
$15.3 million to the Authority to manage the marine park. In addition,
$5.8 million is received from a Special Appropriation, which is funded by the
Environmental Management Charge on permitted commercial operations within the Marine Park.
Further contributions, including those estimated from the Queensland Government, would
bring the total budget for the Authority to $28.3 million for 1999-2000.
Conservation of the Great Barrier Reef is the Authority's primary obligation. The
Authority's challenge is to ensure that valuable tourist and commercial fishing
industries, worth around $1.3 billion per annum, and other important uses, such as
adjacent land use, shipping and recreational activities, operate on an ecologically
sustainable basis. The outcome of the Authority's activities will be the protection, wise
use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef through the care and
development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
In 1998-99 the State of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was released.
The report is the first ever attempt to integrate information on the state of the
environment, human pressures on the environment and management responses to those
pressures for the whole World Heritage Area. The report concluded that, overall, the Great
Barrier Reef is in good shape and in good hands.
Also in 1998-99 the report of a five-year study of the effects of trawling was released.
The Government subsequently announced that it would pursue major reforms to the management
arrangements for trawling and would implement a crack down on illegal trawling in the
marine park. The fine for illegal fishing will be increased and $3.4 million will be
available from 1999-2000 to 2001-2002 for targeted surveillance and enforcement
activities. The Government has also indicated that it will ensure the mandatory use of
turtle exclusion devices and by-catch reduction devices in the trawl fishery by March
2000.
There are four key issues to be addressed in providing funding for the protection and
management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area.
Protection and management of multiple marine use is provided for through development of
plans of management for high priority areas and zoning plans. In 1998-99, the preparation
of management plans for the Cairns, Whitsunday and Hinchinbrook areas was progressed.
Zoning plans are being developed currently for the Far Northern and Gumoo Woojabuddee
sections of the Marine Park. Work has commenced to add to the Marine Park, 27 new areas in
the Great Barrier Reef region which are not yet in the park.
The Authority works jointly with a range of Commonwealth and Queensland Government
agencies, such as the Queensland Department of the Environment and the Queensland
Fisheries Management Authority, to achieve marine park management objectives. Field
management of the marine park is implemented through day-to-day management programmes,
many of which are carried out by Queensland Government agencies.
Contact: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority -- 07 4750 0832
Australia is a major supporter of regional coastal and marine initiatives implemented
through a range of institutions and programmes. Australia's actions at the international
level have the dual role of integrating Australian marine and coastal objectives into
international policy, and ensuring the effective operation of the marine and coastal
programmes of work of international and regional fora with which Australia is involved.
International fora in which Australia is involved include the Coordinating Body on the
Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), South Pacific Forum Secretariat, South Pacific Regional
Environment Programme (SPREP), South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), Forum
Fisheries Agency (FFA), South Pacific Commission (SPC), East Asian Seas (EAS) Action Plan,
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Marine Resources Conservation Working Group, the
Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based
Activities (GPA), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) the Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS).
Priority focal areas include: promoting and implementing the international aspects of
Australia's Oceans Policy; marine pollution; integrated coastal management, including
marine protected areas; and sustainable fisheries.
In April 1999 Australia promoted a suite of initiatives on oceans and seas to the seventh
session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), aimed to accelerate the
conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity on a global scale. These
initiatives, which relate to marine pollution, coral reefs, marine protected areas,
conservation of biological diversity of the high seas, combating illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing and improving international cooperation and coordination on oceans
issues, will continue to be pursued in accordance with the outcomes of the CSD.
Australia is also a strong supporter of marine conservation organisations such as the
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), of which Australia was a founding member.
Australia signed the 1994 Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, is an
active participant in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and is playing an
important role in the development of the ballast water annex to the Convention for the
Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
Commonwealth legislation strictly regulates the dumping of waste at sea. Australia is a
party to the London Convention 1972, an international agreement that promotes effective
control of pollution from ocean disposal which is hazardous to human health, could harm
marine life, or could interfere with other uses of the sea. In 1996 a new Protocol to the
Convention was agreed, which provides for a more rigorous approach to dumping wastes at
sea, allowing only seven classes of material (including dredge material, vessels and
platforms) to be dumped at sea after issue of a permit. The Government signed the Protocol
on 25 March 1998. The Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill 1999 was
introduced to Parliament on 31 March 1999 to give effect to Australia's commitment to the
Protocol.
The Commonwealth Government is represented at the IMO's London Convention Consultative
Group and London Convention Scientific Group Meetings, and is also a member of the IMO's
Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). These organisations meet each year to
develop and promote mechanisms to deal with international marine pollution issues. As part
of the MEPC's Antifouling Working Group, the Government is developing an international
instrument to implement a global ban on harmful antifoulants.
Through its development assistance programme, Australia contributes financially to
programmes and projects managed by SPREP, SOPAC, FFA and SPC. In addition, Australia funds
a number of other regional and bilateral projects promoting Integrated Coastal Zone
Management and sustainable marine fisheries. For example, the $4 million
ASEAN-Australian Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP) Coastal Zone and Environment
Resource Project aims to enhance the national capacity and infrastructure of ASEAN
countries to better address coastal zone management issues. The project's objectives
include regional collaboration, efficient collection and utilisation of data, human
resource development in information technology and coastal zone resource management.
Australia has also funded a $1.1 million study on the development of a coastal zone
management plan for Papua New Guinea.
The $4.5 million Samoa fisheries project is making a significant contribution to the
sustainability of Samoa's inshore and offshore marine resources and the continuing
development of the nation's village-based and commercial fisheries. In Papua New Guinea,
Australia has committed $6.5 million over six years to the National Fisheries College
Project. The project will assist the country's domestic fisheries industry to sustainably
utilise its marine resources.
Commonwealth initiatives in the Torres Strait will assist the fulfilment of environmental
obligations as a party to the Torres Strait Treaty while helping the Torres Strait
Islanders to sustainably manage their marine and coastal environment.
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group -- 02 6274 1919
Contact: AusAID -- 02 6206 4566
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a statutory authority responsible
for maritime safety, that is primarily funded by the shipping industry from fees and
levies, but also receives Commonwealth funding for search and rescue operations.
AMSA provided around $4.6 million in 1997-98 from shipping levies to work with State
Governments, shipping, oil and exploration industries to implement the National Plan to
Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.
Contact: Australian Maritime Safety Authority -- 02 6279 5618
