8 April 2011

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is giving the community an opportunity to have a say on a tourism operator's application to temporarily relocate to another site in the Cairns area.

Cairns Premier Reef and Island Tours Pty Ltd (operating as “Ocean Freedom”) applied for permission under the Marine Tourism Contingency Plan to temporarily relocate from Upolu Cay Reef.

The operator is looking to move to either Vlasoff Cay Reef (first preference) or Michaelmas Cay Reef (second preference) for a maximum period of 12 months.

Under legislation, applications that may impact on the publics' reasonable use of an area within the Marine Park must be subject to a rigorous assessment before any decisions are made.

Public consultation and input is a significant part of the assessment process.

It is important to have a good understanding of the existing uses of the area to enable an appropriate assessment of the proposal.

Written comments on the proposal must be lodged with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority by 2 May 2011.

Further information on the proposal can be obtained from the applicant, Cairns Premier Reef and Island Tours Pty Ltd, on 0408 411 118, or from www.gbrmpa.gov.au