Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B00701:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B00701
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5977–8997

facilities in the Planning Area
 2.24 Limit on number of bareboat operations in the Planning Area
 2.25 Limit on number of long range roving operations in the Planning Area
 2.26 New permissions for crewed vessel open tour operations

Schedule 1 The Hinchinbrook Planning Area

Schedule 2 Locations

Schedule 3 Setting Locations

Schedule 4 Levels of use at Sensitive Locations

Schedule 5 Significant bird sites

Schedule 6 No-anchoring area

Schedule 7 Cruise ship anchorages

Schedule 8 Maps

Schedule 9 Activities to which Part 2 of this Plan do not apply

Schedule 10 Definitions

Introduction

The Hinchinbrook area is a place of rugged beauty and inspiration.  The area's natural attractions include vast passage landscapes, cloud-covered mountaintops, luxuriant rainforests and small islands with dense tropical vegetation, sandy beaches and fringing reefs.  The area contains a diverse array of habitats, which support a range of fauna such as dugong, turtles, dolphins, as well as a host of birds and the occasional migrating whale.

The area has become internationally renowned for offering a relatively untouched nature-based experience where the scenery is suburb.  Uses of the area are diverse and include bush walking, camping, low-key commercial tourism, cultural activities, recreational fishing and boating and commercial fishing.

Managing the area
The Commonwealth's Hinchinbrook Plan of Management (the Plan) has been developed to fulfil national and international obligations for the protection of World Heritage and other values that make the Hinchinbrook Island area a special part of Australia.  The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the GBRMPA) recognises the intrinsic qualities of the area and plans to coordinate the protection of those qualities for the future, whilst allowing for appropriate levels of nature-based experiences through a range of commercial and recreational opportunities.  The provisions contained within the Plan provide the GBRMPA with the mechanism to perform this important task.

The Planning Area, (the area to which the Plan applies), consists of waters within the Commonwealth's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and lies generally offshore from Cardwell in north Queensland, from the town of Mission Beach in the north to as far south as the mouth of Crystal Creek, south of Ingham.  The Planning Area does not include the Hinchinbrook Channel.

The GBRMPA and Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (primarily the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service) are joint managers of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.  These management agencies have adopted a coordinated approach to ensure that the values of the region are maintained.  For this reason, the Plan should be read in conjunction with the Hinchinbrook Marine Management Plan, a management plan produced by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, which covers Queensland marine waters of the Hinchinbrook area including Hinchinbrook Channel.

Efficient and effective management of use