The Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) region is visited all year round by international and domestic travellers, with peak numbers in the winter months. Attractions on land include the Conway National Park, which contains some of the world's oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests.

The Whitsunday Region supports the towns of Proserpine, Airlie Beach and surrounding communities. Total population is approximately 20 990. Sugar cane production and agriculture are the main industries around Proserpine.

Whilst tourism is a mainstay of the Whitsundays, the LMAC region, which incorporates Bowen in the north to Midge Point in the south, includes diverse agricultural, fishing and aquaculture activities which all have an ability to impact on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area.

Whitsunday LMAC region

While the Whitsunday LMAC normally meets at Airlie Beach, it is concerned with the coastal and inland area extending from Cape Upstart in the north to Midge Point in the south and includes the coastal towns of Bowen, Airlie Beach and numerous beachside settlements.

Who is represented on the Whitsunday LMAC?

Members of the Whitsunday LMAC represent a diversity of interest groups including: regional tourism operators, catchment management groups, commercial and recreational fishing interests, conservation groups, community groups and local council. Government offices from the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, Marine Safety Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are also represented on the committee.

What are some of the current issues the LMAC is concerned about?

• Maintaining Public Moorings in the area
• Issues relating to coastal development (including marinas) and its impact on the marine environment
  
• Protecting marine animals such as dugong and turtles
• Issues relating to Special Management Areas
• Water quality, coastal planning and catchment issues
• Issues relating to sustainable tourism operations in the region
• Initiating public forums to explain issues such as climate change, storm tides and coral bleaching
• Issues relating to resource extraction and its potential impact on the marine environment
  
• Increasing community awareness of relevant marine and coastal issues.

Further information about LMACs

For further information on Local Marine Advisory Committees, please contact:

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Central Regional Office
PO Box 94
MACKAY  QLD  4740

Tel:  (07) 4951 3454
Fax: (07) 4951 3487

Email: central.region@gbrmpa.gov.au