Advisory Committees

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has established various advisory committees to assist in the management of particular issues in Marine Park locations and operational programs.

Reef Advisory Committees (RACs)

The GBRMPA has four Reef Advisory Committees (RACs): Catchment and Coastal; Ecosystem; Indigenous; and Tourism and Recreation.

A key role for the RACs is to advise the GBRMPA in relation to actions that can be taken to address the risks to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009.

While climate change remains the major threat to the Great Barrier Reef, there is no separate RAC addressing climate change, instead issues relating to climate change will be considered by each of the RACs.

The RACs are competency-based committees comprising a cross-section of stakeholder interests with expertise and experience in relevant areas. The role of the RACs is to provide issues-based advice to the GBRMPA on operational issues. Each RAC works closely with staff of the relevant branch and sections, to ensure that policy development and strategic direction are developed in consultation with stakeholders.

The RACs are appointed by the Board of the Marine Park Authority (MPA) for a term of three years, and members are eligible for reappointment. Each of the RACs includes members appointed as a representative of a particular group or sector (e.g. industry, recreational, government), or for their linkages to Traditional Owner groups. All RAC members are expected to adopt a broad perspective on issues that are addressed, mindful of the objectives of the relevant branch or sections and of the GBRMPA’s corporate priorities.

The current three-year term of membership will expire on 31 December 2012.

The RACs' Charter of Operations sets out the procedures by which the committees function, including Terms of Reference, Reporting and Membership.

View the Terms of Reference for each RAC:

• Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee
  
• Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee
• Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee
• Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee

Generally, each of the RACs will meet two to three times each year on dates confirmed by the committees at the end of each preceding meeting. Meetings are generally held in Townsville.

At the conclusion of each RAC meeting, a Summary Document is prepared, which provides a brief report on the major issues discussed at that meeting. The Summary Document is used to inform other advisory committees serving the GBRMPA, and the broader community, of the business of the RAC. It is distributed to members of each of the RACs, and is the means by which members can on-forward to their 'constituents' information discussed at a RAC meeting. The Summary Document is also distributed to members of the Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs) and the local Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service offices.

View the Summary Documents for each RAC:

• Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee
  
• Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee
• Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee
• Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee

Local Marine Advisory Committees

There are eleven Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs) in operation in regional centres adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef between Cooktown and Gladstone.

LMACs provide advice to the Authority, other government agencies and organisations on marine and coastal issues and specific activities that affect the Marine Park in the local regions.

The current eleven committees are:

• Cape York
• Douglas
• Cairns
• Cassowary Coast
• Hinchinbrook
• Townsville
• Whitsunday
• Mackay
• Capricorn Coast
• Gladstone
• Burnett

The committees also provide information to the public in regard to issues affecting the local marine and coastal regions, thus facilitating communication between user groups and the local community.

Related information

• Find out more about Local Marine Advisory Committees