Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01047:reg:38:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01047
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 38 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 116102–119316

38

Table 2: Estimated average cost of beach clean-ups per kilometre (Tangaroa Blue)

Type of site                               NSW ($)         QLD ($)
Within populated areas                     1,109.53        842.96
Away from populated areas                  559.85          2,080.47
Inland waterways                           1,878.57        1,140.25
State average                              1,182.65        1,354.56
Remote sites (e.g. Cape York Peninsula)                    7,687.32

Due to the entrenched and pervasive nature of the problem, investments in marine debris threat abatement actions are likely to be long term and costly. Economic returns on such investment are possible through retrieval of resources or energy from debris material, but are likely to remain small, at least for the life of this plan. However, opportunities for investment and new jobs may result from establishment of a circular economy and development of waste-to-energy industry.
Waste-to-energy systems involve high infrastructure costs but allow for waste (potentially including retrieved marine debris) to be valued as a commodity. This waste management option is being pursued in Western Australia, with the planned development of two waste-to-energy facilities at the City of Kwinana, south of Perth and Boodarie in the Pilbara. Costs for development of these facilities are $400 million and $200 million respectively:

           3.3  Links to legislation and to Australian Government plans and programs

This TAP sits within the context of national legislation, policy and programs directed to the long-term preservation of Australia's biodiversity. The TAP is a legislative instrument under the EPBC Act, Australia's central piece of environmental legislation. EPBC Act-listed threatened species that have been documented as impacted by marine debris are shown at Appendix A, and the threatened ecological communities identified as impacted by marine debris (litter) are shown at Appendix B. Relevant recovery plans that have been prepared to guide the recovery of EPBC Act-listed threatened species are shown at Appendix C.

The Reef 2050 Plan is the overarching framework for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef
from 2015 to 2050. The Reef Trust is one of the key mechanisms assisting in the delivery of the Reef 2050 Plan, investing in the mitigation of known key threats to the reef. The Reef Trust has a strong focus on evaluation and adaptive management, aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainable management of the Great Barrier Reef.
Australian Government funding for scientific research or management actions in line with the objectives and actions of this TAP may be possible. The National Environmental Science Programme provides a long-term commitment to environment and climate research through six research hubs, including the Marine Biodiversity Hub and Tropical Water Quality Hub.
The Australian Government's Threatened Species Strategy provides a broad framework for science, action and partnership to achieve Australia's long-term goal of reversing species declines and supporting species recovery.
Commonwealth and state/Northern Territory legislation is in place to implement