18 September 2012 – Townsville

Overview

1.    The Board reviewed issues affecting management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, including field management forward plans and the reports of resurgence of Crown of Thorns Starfish. The board were briefed on the strong progress with the Reef Guardian program and a Position Paper on Ports development in the region. Other items included administrative decisions on the framework for policy documents, delegations relating to aspects of permits and legal agreements, and forward planning for the Reef Advisory Committees which are due to complete their current terms soon.

Ports and Shipping in the Great Barrier Reef

2.    The Authority had previously discussed development of a position statement on the matters involved in development of coastal ports in the region that could affect the long term protection of the Reef, and at this meeting approved a draft for exposure to stakeholders.

Decision MPA 2012-223-9  (18 Sept 2012): The Authority noted the "Ports and Shipping Information Sheet" August 2012 with amendments as discussed, and approved the draft Position Statement "Ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area" after amendments for consultation with external stakeholders.

Updating Policy documents for the GBRMPA

3.    Members supported the current efforts to achieve consistency of policy documents across the Agency.

Decision MPA 2012-223-10 (18 Sept 2012): The Authority approved the range of documents to be considered external policy documents, delegated to the Chairman of the Authority the approval of guidelines and approval of minor reviews to external policy documents, noted the list of existing external policy documents, and approved the list of external policy documents, which will be developed to support the strategic assessment.

Reef Advisory Committees to be reconstituted

4.    The Authority noted the important advisory role played by members of the Reef Advisory Committees.
 
Decision MPA 2012-223-9 (18 Sept 2012): The Authority approved the commencement of processes necessary to reconstitute the Reef Advisory Committees, and agreed that further advice be sought from the Chairmen of the Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee and the Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee on whether these two Committees could reasonably be replaced by one Committee. 

Annual Report 2011-2012 approved

5.    In approving the Annual Report, the Authority recommended including an executive summary in future reports and a highlights summary on the website for this year.

Decision MPA 2012-223-14 (18 Sept 2012): The Authority approved the Annual Report 2011-2012.

Members of the Authority

• Dr Russell Reichelt FTSE [Chairman]
• Mr Jon Grayson
• Miss Melissa George
• Mr Daniel Gschwind
• Mr Tony Mooney AM
  

About the GBRMPA Board Report: Commencing after meeting 219 November 2011, a summary document is prepared after each meeting of the Marine Park Authority as a public record. Enquiries should be referred to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.