Print PageGreat Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Strategic Assessment
The Australian Government, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), and the Queensland Government, have formally agreed to undertake a comprehensive strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the adjacent coastal zone.
The comprehensive strategic assessment will be undertaken in accordance with section 146 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The Australian and Queensland governments are committed to ensuring the Great Barrier Reef retains the values for which it was declared a World Heritage Area and that it continues to be one of the best managed marine protected areas in the world.
The comprehensive strategic assessment will help identify, plan for and manage existing and emerging risks to ensure ongoing protection and management of the unique environmental values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and adjacent coastal zone. This will be achieved by:
- investigating the adequacy of the existing management arrangement for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; and
- assessing current and future development policies and planning in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the adjacent coastal zone and analysing likely direct, indirect and cumulative impacts.
There are two parts to the comprehensive strategic assessment:
- GBRMPA is leading the marine component which is looking at the arrangements in place to manage and protect the Great Barrier Reef Region.
- Queensland Government is leading the coastal component which is looking at coastal development such as planning for urban, industrial and port development and the processes and management arrangements in place to ensure development occurs sustainably and does not impact unacceptably on the Reef's unique values.
GBRMPA and the Queensland Government will work together to analyse impacts at the marine coastal interface and on Great Barrier Reef islands.
