Marine Bioregional Planning - stakeholder consultation activities

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all ocean users and coastal communities and will actively engage them in the marine bioregional planning process. There will be consultation at key stages of the planning process and a statutory consultation period on each Draft Plan, as required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

National activities

Two national information sessions will be held, the first following release of the South-west Marine Bioregional Profile (late 2007), and the second during the assessment/development phase for the Draft Bioregional Plans (in the first half of 2008). Key national stakeholder groups will be invited to the information sessions. At each session the Department will provide a briefing on progress and timing in the marine bioregional planning process.

These information sessions will inform stakeholders about the planning approach in general, and how they are being rolled out in each region. They will include information on the approach the Department will use in identifying conservation actions to be outlined in the draft bioregional plans, including measures under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The Department will also hold meetings with national stakeholder groups to address specific issues, as needed.

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 release of the Marine Bioregional Profile, a forum will be held to seek feedback from stakeholders on the information provided in the Profile, and underpinning it. This will include the opportunity for discussing new or additional information that stakeholders would like to see included in the assessment/development process for the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan. The workshop will also include discussion on next steps and timing for the process.
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:
- Identifying and evaluating likely impacts upon conservation values; and
- Developing and testing environmental indicators
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.

Consultation on the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan

As the Draft Marine Bioregional Plan is being prepared under the EPBC Act, the consultation process will be held in accordance with the requirements of the Act and Regulations.

The draft Plan will have a consultation phase of at least 60 days, during which the Department will facilitate meetings with stakeholders, including public meetings at key localities where needed, to discuss and clarify issues and comments.

Views gathered during this time will be considered by the Government before the Bioregional Plan is finalised and adopted for the region.

Statutory consultation on the candidate MPA network

Once the Government has adopted the Marine Bioregional Plan, the process for declaring the candidate MPA network will commence. The consultation process will include:

a 60 day period inviting public comment on the proposed declaration;
preparation of a report by the Director of National Parks for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources that includes each submission received and the Director's views on each;
preparation of a Regulation Impact Statement approved by the Office of Best Practice Regulation; and
development of interim management arrangements with key stakeholders.

Following declaration of the MPA network, the management planning process begins. Two rounds of consultation will occur as the management plan is developed. The first will be an invitation to comment on the proposal to prepare a draft plan and the second an invitation to comment on the draft plan.

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