Hinchinbrook community representatives joined others from Cape York to Bundaberg over the weekend to discuss the future management of the Great Barrier Reef.

The two-day workshop is an annual meeting of representatives from 12 Local Marine Advisory Committees  and senior staff from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee Chair Michael Nash said presentations and discussions focused mainly on sourcing local input to the strategic assessment.

As agreed with the Australian Environment Minister, GBRMPA and Queensland are undertaking this strategic assessment. GBRMPA will identify the values of and risks to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area while the Queensland Government is assessing the adjacent coastal zone.  

“It’s extremely complex trying to balance coastal development with the managing the Reef,” Mr Nash said.

“The weekend was very productive and I’m glad GBRMPA gave us the opportunity to talk about our local area, the pressures we are facing and why the Reef is so important to the Hinchinbrook community”.

GBRMPA Chair Russell Reichelt thanked the community representatives for giving up their time to provide valuable feedback and advice on Reef management.

“The delegates represented a wide range of community stakeholders including tour operators, Traditional Owners, farmers, conservationists and fishers.

“They brought a wide range of views and experiences to the workshop and it was great to get their input.

“We hope to bring everyone back together early next year for a final round of briefings and comments prior to release of the draft strategic assessment reports for public comment.”

Other issues discussed at the meeting included inshore biodiversity, the outlook for coastal ecosystems and a proposed heritage strategy for the Great Barrier Reef. They also toured the upgraded Reef Vessel Tracking System facility managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Established in 1999, the Bowen-Burdekin Local Marine Advisory Committee meets five times a year to advise GBRMPA on marine issues and undertake regional environmental projects.

Local Marine Advisory Committees also operate in the Bowen-Burdekin, Cape York, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Capricorn Coast, Douglas, Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville, Whitsundays and Burnett regions.