THE NSW Liberals & Nationals Government last week introduced the landmark Marine Estate Management Bill 2014 to the NSW Parliament, which will enshrine ground-breaking reforms to the management of the marine estate in legislation.
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The move has been slammed by environmentalists for taking management of the marine environment from the environment minister and giving it instead to the primary industry minister.
But according to the NSW Government press release, the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, and Minister for the Environment, Rob Stokes, said the bill would put in place the legislative framework to deliver a comprehensive new approach to the management of the marine estate.
The NSW marine estate includes marine waters out to three nautical miles, estuaries, coastal wetlands, lakes and lagoons, and adjacent land influenced by ocean processes.
“This Bill represents a monumental shift in the way the marine estate is managed in NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“It is important to reflect where we came from – Labor’s approach to the marine estate was politically driven, rather than being evidenced-based, and resulted in meaningless lines on maps being drawn, creating ineffective ‘paper parks’.
“In June 2011 the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government delivered upon a key election commitment, by commissioning the Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks in NSW.
“In February 2013 we released our response to that audit, which announced a new framework for the management of the marine estate.
“Our new approach is about establishing a foundation for robust, scientific and evidence-based management of the marine estate into the future.
“For too long there has been a non-strategic approach to the management of our marine estate, I strongly urge the NSW Parliament to support this Bill to restore balance and ensure our marine estate remains productive, healthy and sustainably managed.”
Mr Stokes said the way we manage our coast and saltwater economy is increasingly important because of the ever present risk of loving our marine environment to death.
“So much of our population hugs the coastline, and the people of NSW have a special place in their hearts for our spectacular beaches and headlands,” Mr Stokes said.
“Integrated coastal zone management is critical to ensure we manage the marine environment and place scientific knowledge at the centre of our decision making.”
Bill would give Fisheries Minister veto power
The Baird Government’s plans give the Primary Industries Minister unprecedented powers to veto any plans to create new marine parks in NSW, according to environmentalists.
The Marine Estate Management Bill 2014, which was tabled last week in the NSW Legislative Assembly, seeks to repeal the Marine Parks Act 1997.
“We acknowledge the Bill seeks to institute a holistic approach to management of marine resources, which we applaud,” said Nature Conservation Council Campaigns Director Daisy Barham.
“We also welcome the continued prohibition on mining in marine parks and the inclusion of the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
“However, this Bill would also put the needs of the environment in the hands of the Primary Industries Minister, who has displayed a reckless disregard for marine conservation.
“This is the minister who has allowed fishing in protected marine sanctuaries, closed the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre, and overturned conservation plans that took years of community negotiation to finalise.
“This proposal is like letting the Resources and Energy Minister determine when and where we should declare national parks.
“The Bill has largely been written in secret with few opportunities for the public to directly influence the outcome. It was introduced to parliament after less than three hours of stakeholder consultation back in March.
“We expected more from a government led by Mike Baird, a self-proclaimed lover of the ocean.
“Indeed, this government has systematically wound back protection for our oceans. It’s a bit hard for the Minister to claim that the new bill is designed to increase protection of our important marine ecosystems while the government allows fishing from beaches and headlands in marine sanctuaries.
“Protection of our most important marine areas enjoys almost universal support in the community,” Ms Barham said. “A Galaxy poll in 2014 found 93 per cent of people in NSW support marine sanctuaries, while support among recreational fishers was only slightly less, at 91 per cent.”
Key concerns:
• For the first time, the Minister for the Environment will need the concurrence of the Minister for Primary Industries before declaring marine parks.
• There was very poor consultation in developing this Bill - only one three-hour meeting with stakeholders in March this year.
• The Bill contains proposals to reduce the consultation period for the declaration of new marine parks from 90 days to 60 days. This contradicts the government’s stated desire to improve consultation on marine management issues.