Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (125 of 2008)

Schedule 3   Proclaiming the Marine Park, zoning plans and plans of management

Part 2   Amendment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

15   Sections 32 and 33

Repeal the sections, substitute:

Division 2 — Zoning plans

32 Objects of Division

(1) The objects of this Division are:

(a) to regulate the use of the Marine Park so as to:

(i) protect the ecosystem within the Great Barrier Reef Region; and

(ii) ensure the use is ecologically sustainable use; and

(iii) manage competing usage demands; and

(b) to protect areas in the Marine Park that are of high conservation value; and

(c) to protect and conserve the biodiversity of the Marine Park, including ecosystems, habitats, populations and genes; and

(d) to regulate activities that exploit the resources of the Great Barrier Reef Region so as to:

(i) minimise the adverse effect of those activities on the Great Barrier Reef; and

(ii) ensure the ecologically sustainable use of the resources; and

(e) to protect the world heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; and

(f) to provide for the ecologically sustainable use of marine resources by traditional owners consistent with their traditional practices; and

(g) to reserve some areas of the Great Barrier Reef Region for public enjoyment and appreciation; and

(h) to preserve some areas of the Great Barrier Reef Region in a natural state, undisturbed except for the purposes of scientific research that cannot be undertaken elsewhere in the Marine Park.

(2) To achieve these objects, this Division provides for the preparation of zoning plans in respect of areas in the Marine Park.

32A When zoning plans must be prepared

As soon as practicable after an area has been declared under section 31 to be part of the Marine Park, the Authority must prepare a zoning plan in respect of the area.

32B Content of zoning plans

(1) A zoning plan prepared in respect of an area must provide that, for the purposes of this Act, the area:

(a) constitutes a single zone; or

(b) is divided into 2 or more zones described in the plan.

(2) The plan must do the following in relation to the zone or each of the zones:

(a) give the zone a name or other designation;

(b) make provision with respect to the purposes for which the zone may be used or entered;

(c) designate an IUCN category for the zone, or each part of the zone.

32C Notice of intention to prepare zoning plan

(1) Before preparing a zoning plan in respect of an area, the Authority must, by public notice:

(a) state that it intends to prepare a zoning plan in respect of the area; and

(b) invite the public to make comments in connection with the proposed plan by the date specified in the notice (which must be at least 3 months after the date the notice is published in the Gazette); and

(c) specify the address to which comments must be sent; and

(d) specify that the following are publicly available and how a copy may be obtained:

(i) principles approved under section 34;

(ii) a statement prepared under subsection 35(1).

(2) The Authority must consider any comments made in accordance with the notice.