After several years of public comment on draft proposals, we are still unclear on the government’s policy intentions and the impact new laws will have on our State’s precious Marine resources.
In considering your position, I would ask that you take into account the long history of this issue and how you might make sure the right decisions are made.
The former Liberal Government began the work to create Marine Parks in the mid 1990s. In 1998 Our Seas and Coasts – a Maritime and Estuarine Strategy for South Australia, was released with the comprehensive “Guide to Marine Protected Areas” being published in April 2000. Our 2002 election policy indicated our desire to complete the work by 2006.
This reflected the State’s long standing obligation to establish a system of Marine Parks within the State’s waters, flowing from agreements at Council of Australian Governments (COAG) resulting from the Commonwealth’s international obligations.
Notwithstanding our ongoing commitment to the marine environment, the Liberal Opposition has formally adopted the position to oppose the marine park outer boundaries as proclaimed by the Government on 29 January 2009.
We believe that the lack of information from the Government regarding its intentions, poses too great a risk to those likely to be impacted by the proclamations.
The current Government released its “Blueprint for the South Australian Representative System of Marine Protected Areas” in November 2004 with a time frame of establishing 19 Marine Park Areas (MPAs) by 2010.
The intent at that stage was to establish each MPA separately. The first proposal was for the Encounter Marine Park with the draft released for public comment in 2005. This draft delineated the whole of the proposed MPA and the intended zones within the outer boundary. The public backlash saw the withdrawal of the draft MPA.
The next public step was the introduction and passing of the Marine Parks Act 2007, followed by the January proclamation of the proposed outer boundaries.
The Opposition is now deeply concerned that the current Government has an agenda well beyond its stated objective of protecting our marine environment. This belief is supported by a number of facts, including` the following points, all acknowledged by the Government:
- That the vast majority of our marine environment remains in pristine condition.
- That fisheries management will remain under the Primary Industries Department and be controlled by the Fisheries Management Act.
- That after seven years the Government claims that it is unable to identify those areas of very high conservation value to be treated as no go/no take zones.
- After seven years the Government cannot identify zones to form a representative collection of our marine biodiversity to be subjected to ongoing monitoring and active management whilst allowing for multiple uses.
It is imperative that we get this right in the first instance as once the outer boundaries of the parks are confirmed it will be most difficult at a later date, to reduce the areas therein. Furthermore, once the outer boundaries are confirmed the various zones within these parks are established under a management plan for the park. The initial management plan for all intents and purposes is created at the Ministers discretion.
This process has the potential for significant restrictions to be imposed with no course of redress. Management plans will not be revealed prior o the next State election, to be held in March 2010.
If the Government was genuine in its claim that only small areas will be locked away as “no take zones” and that “most people will not notice any difference” why has it proposed to have the power to lock away almost one half of our State’s waters? The proposals also give the Minister of the day the power to restrict beach access to most of our coastline. All of this is being done without any future risks or current damage being identified.
Whilst the Liberal Party will endeavour to highlight its position and concerns, it is my belief that the Government will only change its position in the face of overwhelming opposition and in the lead up to an election.
Consequently, I am urging interested parties, particularly Local Governments along the coast, recreational and professional fishing associations, groups and businesses reliant upon marine based activities for their viability, to actively campaign against the current proposals.
This State needs a regime of marine parks that provide the highest level of protection for a range of icon sites. This combined with a representative collection of sites identifying the range of biodiversity within our marine waters, to allow for ongoing study and monitoring whilst allowing multiple uses, should be the basis of a viable marine park system.
Any feedback of your thoughts on this matter would be most welcome.
Yours sincerely
Mitch Williams MP
Shadow Minister for Environment and Conservation
