Local Marine Advisory Committees

Community input into management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is advised on management issues about the Marine Park at a local level by voluntary community-based committees called Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs). The committees were established in 1999 to enable local communities to have effective input into the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Marine Park).

They provide a community forum for representative interest groups, government representatives such as the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the local community, to come together to discuss issues about marine resources and their concerns. This helps the GBRMPA and other management agencies to keep in touch with marine and coastal issues at a local level and understand the use of the Marine Park. LMACs provide both an advisory and a communication role between the community and the GBRMPA.

Committees

The current 11 committees are:

LMACs assist in management of the Marine Park by:

Having representatives of local marine user and interest groups in a single forum, discussing sometimes conflicting views on issues such as habitat conservation and resource sharing
Assisting in management processes by identifying issues to be addressed at both local and regional levels
Encouraging the exchange of information and giving managers the opportunity to develop greater rapport with clients
Providing a forum for other resource management agencies such as the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to meet with the local community and address local concerns
Encouraging the involvement of the local community in issues that impact on the Great Barrier Reef
Having a well informed community that are prepared to respond to new planning initiatives and that have a better understanding of the information requirements of management agencies.

LMACs benefit the community as they provide:

An opportunity for community representatives to put their point of view across to management agencies and other members of the community
An opportunity to learn about the marine and coastal environment in order to make informed decisions and advise management agencies
A basis to develop community based projects
An opportunity to give direct feedback on management decisions and have ownership for that decision.

Membership

Members may be independent, or represent a community or industry group from which they coordinate feedback. The aim is to have a balanced representation of local people who are involved in the management or use of the Marine Park. Composition of each LMAC varies depending on local interests and industries, but some of the groups represented on the LMAC are:

Tourism industry
Recreational and sports fishing sector
Commercial fishing sector
Agriculture or land user groups
Specific interest groups (for example, recreational diving, shell collecting clubs)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders interests
Conservation interests
Local associations
Port authorities
Local government
Industry
Local volunteer groups involved in management of natural resources.

Relevant Government agency representatives including the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the GBRMPA also attend meetings.

Details of membership and the role of LMAC members can be found in the LMAC Guidelines [ Acrobat Format 800KB ]

How to become involved?

Membership to the LMAC is for a three-year term, with the flexibility for members to be replaced by their organisation within the term if they wish. Members are appointed initially by the GBRMPA in response to an advertisement in local newspapers. Members are selected based on their interest and/or involvement in sustainable marine resource use and conservation, and their ability to communicate information to and from the community. A Chair and Secretary are elected by the Committee and appointed by the GBRMPA.

LMAC members were elected as of February 2006, however new members may be appointed to the LMAC at any time subject to approval by the GBRMPA and Chair of the relevant LMAC. If you are interested in finding out more information about becoming an LMAC member in your local area, please contact your corresponding LMAC Coordinator listed below.

Meetings

image010a The GBRMPA funds the LMACs to meet every two months. Meetings are generally held in the evenings on dates set by each LMAC. Notices of meetings are sent to committee members, however non-members are welcome to attend the meetings on invitation of the LMAC Chair. An annual workshop is held to bring all the LMAC Chairs together to discuss issues with each other and with GBRMPA staff.

For further information, contact the LMAC Coordinator in your area:

CAPE YORK, DOUGLAS, CAIRNS AND MISSION BEACH:

LMAC Coordinator

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 6091
CAIRNS QLD 4870

Ph: (07) 4051 7132 Fax: (07) 4051 1265

Cape York area email:cape.york.region@gbrmpa.gov.au
Cairns, Douglas and Mission Beach areas email: far.northern.region@gbrmpa.gov.au

HINCHINBROOK and TOWNSVILLE LMACs:

LMAC Coordinator
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 1379
TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810

Ph: (07) 4750 0743 Fax: (07) 4772 6093

Email: northern.region@gbrmpa.gov.au

MACKAY and WHITSUNDAYS LMAC’S:

LMAC Coordinator
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 94
Mackay Qld 4740

Ph: 07 4951 3454 Fax: 07 4951 3487

Email:central.region@gbrmpa.gov.au

CAPRICORN COAST, GLADSTONE and BURNETT LMACs:

LMAC Coordinator
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 301
ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4700

PH: (07) 4921 4055 Fax (07) 4921 4034

Email:southern.region@gbrmpa.gov.au

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