Input from stakeholders

Who are the stakeholders in the South-west Marine Region?

Any person or group with an interest in the way the Australian Government administers its legislative responsibilities over Commonwealth marine areas, is a stakeholder in this process.

The South-west Bioregional Profile

The Bioregional Profile is the first stage in the planning process for the South-west Marine Region, and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts welcomes feedback from interested persons, regarding this document and during the subsequent planning stages. The Profile summarises the existing data and information on the South-west Marine Region, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the Region's ecosystems. The focus is on the areas of the ocean which fall under the jurisdiction of the Australian Government, which is from three to 200 nautical miles from the coastline.

The Bioregional Profile outlines the Region's conservation values, and the considerations that will inform the identification and design of representative Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the area. If you would like to comment on the Profile, please email SW_marine_plan@environment.gov.au. Comments can also be provided at the stakeholder meetings the Department will hold early in the next stage of the planning process, which will be during the development of the Draft South-west Marine Bioregional Plan.

Developing the Draft South-west Marine Bioregional Plan

Following the release of the Profile, the Department will be working with representative organisations on the development of the Draft Plan. Both the Western Australian and South Australian Governments are also currently undertaking marine planning in their coastal waters. The Australian Government is working closely with them, to achieve common marine planning and management goals, and to minimise confusion about the different planning processes.

Regional activities

Regional stakeholder workshops will be held at three key phases of the planning process in the lead-up to release of the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan. Forums will be held in the region.

Phase 1: Information base for the assessments
Following the release of the South-west Marine Bioregional Profile in 2007, regional stakeholder forums were held in Perth and Adelaide in April 2008. The purpose of the forums was to seek feedback from stakeholders on the information contained in the Profile, and provide the opportunity to discuss additional information that stakeholders would like to see considered in the development of the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan. The workshop included discussion on next steps and timing for the process.
Both forums were well attended and the discussions provided constructive feedback on the Profile, as well as the regional marine planning process. A summary of the regional stakeholder forums held in Perth and Adelaide is available in Issue 1 of the South-west Marine Bioregional Planning Updates. Updates will be produced periodically to provide information on stakeholder meetings, the status of marine planning in the South-west, and flag upcoming events. If you would like to be notified when new Updates are published or new information is available please Register your interest.
Phase 2: Regional assessments
A forum will be held to inform stakeholders on the Department's approaches and preliminary outcomes from the range of assessments that are being undertaken in developing the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan. These include:
Phase 3: Finalising the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan
Stakeholders will be consulted on the contents of the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan, including requirements to meet obligations under the EPBC Act and the Government's candidate marine protected areas network.

In addition to the regional forums, the Department will also undertake targeted consultation with identified stakeholders or sectors on specific issues.

To ensure all views are considered throughout the planning process, it is recommended that stakeholders provide input through their representative organisation in the first instance. Stakeholders can also submit their views individually, at any point during the development of the Draft Plan, by emailing SW_marine_plan@environment.gov.au.

A Marine Planning Liaison Office is based in Perth to provide a local point of contact for users of the South-west Marine Region. Staff from the office work closely with stakeholder groups in the south-west, as well as South Australian and Western Australian Government agencies.

Register your interest

To stay in touch with the latest news on the South-west Marine Bioregional Plan and receive e-mail alerts when new information on the South-west Marine Region becomes available on our website register your interest.

Comments

Please forward additional information, as well as any questions you might have in relation to the Profile or marine the bioregional planning process in the South-west Marine Region to:

SW_marine_plan@environment.gov.au

Or mail to:

The Director
Marine Bioregional Planning - South
National Oceans Office Branch
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Edgar Waite Building
203 Channel Highway
Kingston, TAS 7050

Planning in the South-west Marine Region

For more information about the planning process and timelines see Marine Bioregional Planning in the South-West.

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Tuna fishing charter boat. Photo: Elise Hardiker, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

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