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RAP Update
Any doubt that the planned re-zoning of the Great Barrier Reef was a
matter of interest to many Australians was quickly dispelled by the overwhelming
response to the first phase of community consultation for the Representative
Areas Program.
Over 10,000 submissions were received, which, according to the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), is by far the highest number
for any project with which the GBRMPA has been involved.
The GBRMPA still proposes to release the Draft Zoning Plan mid-2003 as
scheduled.
A database has been developed to manage and store the key details of
the submissions. The GBRMPA says this database has enabled it to understand,
sort and use all the information from the submissions and help develop
the Draft Zoning Plan.
According to the GBRMPA, many submissions, especially from communities
along the GBR coast, contained site-specific information about high-use
areas in the marine park and important recommendations for and against
the location of Green Zones ("no-take" areas).
Others raised significant issues about various aspects of the rezoning
of the marine park.
The following key themes emerged from the submissions:
- Protecting the natural and cultural values associated with the Great
Barrier Reef.
- Maintaining access to the marine park for various activities.
- Comments about Green Zones, both for and against.
- Alternatives to Green Zones for protecting biodiversity.
- Communication of the RAP process and various information products
used by GBRMPA.
- Enforcement.
- Other issues such as water quality that were not directly related
to RAP, but that need to be considered within marine park planning.
GBRMPA says it's difficult to summarise so many submissions involving
such a wide variety of issues in this update brochure, so a summary of
the content of submissions, by primary user group, will be released with
the Draft Zoning Plan.
If you would like more information on the origin of submissions (within
Queensland) then visit http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/rep_areas/updates.html
The next phase of public consultation on the Representative Areas Programme
will start mid-2003 when the Draft Zoning Plan, maps and other products
will be released for public comment.
Everyone who made a submission during the first phase of public consultation
will receive reef wide maps showing the locations of the new zones.
Copies of the Draft Zoning Plan, together with zoning maps that incorporate
information outlining the basis for zoning, will be made available for
viewing at Council offices, libraries and other locations in regional
and local centres, such as bait and tackle shops.
For more information about the Representative Areas Program, contact
GBRMPA on 1800 990 177 or visit the GBRMPA website:
www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/rep_areas/index.html
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