Government finalises Marine Park Management Plans
The Federal Government has tabled the final plans for the world’s largest network of marine reserves, which will aim to protect 2.7 kilometres of the nation’s ocean environment.
Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, said that the Government has taken into account more than 65,000 public comments on the draft management plans before finalising the scheme.
"We're for protecting our oceans in the same way that we have protected precious areas on land with national parks," Mr Burke said.
"This is the culmination of an unprecedented public consultation process, with more than 250 meetings and almost three-quarters of a million submissions over the past four years on the new marine network and the science and planning that underpin it.
"The final management plans will give certainty to all operators, setting out how the reserves are to be managed and what activities can and cannot be undertaken.”
With the exception of the South-East Marine Reserves Network, which will come into effect 1 July this year, the plan will come into operation at the beginning of July next year.
"We will have a network of marine reserves conserving the incredible diversity of our marine ecosystems and habitats, protecting them for our children and grandchildren,” Mr Burke said.
"This Government is very proud to bring to a conclusion the years of work on this major conservation achievement."