Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2008C00685:front:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2008C00685
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 0–2889

Cairns Area Plan of Management 1998

as amended

made under section 39ZG of the

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY, having regard to the protection of world heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the precautionary principle mentioned in section 3.5.1 of the Intergovernmental Agreement
on the Environment (a copy of which is set out in the Schedule to the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994), has prepared the following plan of management under
part VB of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.

This compilation was prepared on 18 December 2008
taking into account amendments up to Cairns Area Plan of Management Amendment 2008 (No. 1)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General's Department, Canberra
Foreword

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has prepared the Cairns Area Plan of Management 1998 (the Plan) to protect and conserve the values of a particular area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park associated with the area near Cairns, while allowing for a range of use opportunities. The area is referred to as the Planning Area, and geographical details about the area are contained in the Plan. The Planning Area comprises many places, biological communities and species of high nature conservation, scientific and cultural values. The Plan identifies values that require protection now, the main issues that relate to them and the strategies to address these issues.

The area to which this Plan applies represents 6% of the total area of the Marine Park and is part of the Cairns/Cooktown Management Area. The area also includes 2 Commonwealth islands, namely Low Island and Russell Island.

The uses of the Planning Area are diverse, and include tourism and other recreational activities, cultural activities, shipping, research, commercial and recreational fishing and collecting. The Planning Area contains some of the most intensively used reefs, cays and waters in the Marine Park and supports the highest level of marine tourism in the Marine Park. The Planning Area will be managed for a high level of use, including tourism use. Managing the impacts of use on the values of the Planning Area is a major element of this Plan.

A Queensland marine park (the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park) and Queensland national park islands are adjacent to the Planning Area. The Authority recognises the need for complementary management of adjoining islands, cays, reefs and waters. Management of the Planning Area is done through partnerships with stakeholder groups and joint management arrangements with Queensland Government agencies, in particular the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency which includes the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Day‑to‑day management of the Planning Area is conducted primarily through