Application

To apply for a permission you need to submit an application form to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). All assessments will be considered against specific assessment criteria (specified in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983), and relevant policies and guidelines.

Cost

Assessment fees vary from several hundred dollars to fairly significant amounts - assessment of a project may take two months (for standard proposals) to between six months and three years for more complex projects.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The GBRMPA has a transparent and rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to evaluate the possible risks or effects on the environment of a proposed activity or development in line with our Environmental Impact Management Policy and risk assessment guidelines.

The advantages of this process are that proposed developments undergo thorough consultation, planning and evaluation of alternatives and involve extensive negotiation.

Disadvantages of the process are that the assessment and management of proposals require sufficient information, take considerable time and cost money.

Management tools

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

The assessment process for a permit may require the permittee to develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The document outlines the proposed activity, its possible impacts on the Marine Park and specifies strategies to minimise potential impacts.

The EMP is developed in close consultation with the Assessing Officer and modified as the project progresses during the assessment phase. Once finalised, the document is approved by the managing agencies and used on site by the permittee, staff and contractors.

The applicant may choose to engage a professional consultant or a relevant staff member to develop the EMP.

Find out more about preparing an EMP.

Deed/Bond

Once a permit is issued, depending on the type and scale of the proposed activity, it is likely to be subject to a Deed of Agreement signed by the Director of the Company and/or the lodgement of a Bond (in the form of a Bank Guarantee) to cover the risks associated with the proposed activity.

If a bond is required, the amount determined will be specified in the Deed of Agreement. The permittee will be required to secure with the GBRMPA a bank guarantee for the bond amount.

Insurance requirements

You should not rely upon the GBRMPA's insurance requirements under the deed of agreement to indicate what is sufficient insurance for your operation. This is a minimum requirement. You should seek independent insurance advice concerning the level and type of cover that is appropriate for your specific operation and its associated activities.

Site supervision

Site supervision is an essential component of the management of projects that have the capacity to have significant impacts on the Marine Park and its users. It is also used as a tool to enable the flexible management for certain activities (for example filming to provide access to or allow activities at a sensitive location in the presence of a nominated site supervisor).

You may incur site supervision fees for cost recovery purposes. As a guide, site supervision costs may consist of the following:

• Airfares, accommodation and travel allowance for the Project Manager
• Transport to and from the site to be inspected (for example by boat or helicopter)

The current daily rate is based on a 7.5 hour day for a Project Manager salary level and is set at $354/day.

Where possible the cheapest fares and base accommodation will be sought subject to availability and time-frames of your activity or the applicant has the ability to organise this for the Environmental Site Supervisor.

Where possible the project manager will utilise existing transfers etc provided by the applicant (for example ferry, reef transfer) to save costs.

Partnership approach

The GBRMPA works closely with the Queensland Government, Commonwealth Departments and a range of industry (tourism, ports, fishing), scientists and community groups.

The GBRMPA has a long history of EIA and our approach has adapted over time through feedback from scientists, managers and the community. Your questions or comments on our process are very welcome.