The management plan for Mermaid Reef expired on 16 May 2007. A draft management plan will be released for public comment in 2008. Until the new plan takes effect, the reserve is being managed in a manner consistent with its strict nature reserve classification, under Approvals issued by the Director of National Parks.
Statutory process for the development of a management plan
- The Director of National Parks publishes a notice inviting comment for a minimum period of 30 days on the proposal to prepare a draft management plan.
- The Director will review the comments and any further information collated and use these comment to prepare a draft Management Plan.
- The Director of National Parks prepares the draft management plan.
- The draft management plan is released for public comment for a minimum of 30 days. The Director notifies any native title parties about the making of the plan of management and gives them an opportunity to comment. The Director of National Parks considers any public and native title party comments and may alter the plan accordingly.
- The Director of National Parks provides the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts with the draft management plan, the public comments on the draft plan and the views of the Director on the public comments
- The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts prepares a Regulatory Impact Statement for the Office of Regulatory Review examining any impacts on business of the proposal to declare the MPA (if required).
- The Minister considers the draft plan and the Director's views and, if satisfied, approves the management plan (subject to any amendments the Minister considers necessary). The plan is tabled in both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament together with any comments, views, reports or recommendations that have not been given effect to in the plan.
- Once approved by the Minister, the Parliament and once registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) the plan comes into operation.
Invitation to comment
Invitation to comment on the draft Plan will be advertised on this web site in the Australian and West Australian newspapers and in the Commonwealth Gazette.
The 2000-2007 management plan is available at:
Hard copies of the management plan can also be requested from the Community Information Unit on 1800 803 772. For more information call the Mermaid Reserve Manager on (02) 6274 1111.
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