Schedule of works

Published 23 February 2023

The Marine Estate Management Authority’s Schedule of Works identifies priority areas of work as part of the strategic, holistic, evidence-based approach to managing the NSW marine estate – marine waters, coast and estuaries, including marine parks and aquatic reserves.

In forming advice for the Ministers responsible for the marine estate, the Marine Estate Management Authority (Authority) has direct access to independent expertise across economic, social, cultural and ecological sciences through the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel (Knowledge Panel). The Authority and the Knowledge Panel are helping the NSW Government to focus their programs on priority issues and will oversee implementation of appropriate, innovative, cost-effective management responses to the biggest threats and risks to the NSW marine estate, and to monitor progress and outcomes.

Table 1. Priority of current marine estate programs and key outputs

Indicative completion	Priority programs	Status
2022	Prepare a Network Management Plan (NMP) for five mainland marine parks	In progress
2022	Marine Integrated Monitoring Program – finalise framework documents to guide monitoring and fill knowledge gaps (Community Wellbeing Framework and Environmental Condition Framework)	In progress
2023	Development of management rules to implement the final NMP	In progress
2023	Threat and Risk Assessment for Lord Howe Island marine estate	In progress - scoping
2023	Statewide Threat and Risk Assessment – five-year review	In progress – agency consultation commenced
2024	Prepare a management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park	Pending finalisation of NMP and Threat and Risk Assessment for Lord Howe Island marine estate
2024	Marine Estate Management Strategy implementation – five-year health check	In progress – planning scope of health check
2024	Statutory review of management rules for marine parks	Pending marine park management plans and associated development of management rules
2025	Development of management rules to implement the final management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park	Pending finalisation of management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park
2028	Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2028) implementation	Being implemented
2028	Marine Integrated Monitoring Program (MIMP) implementation	Being implemented

Table 2. Completed marine estate programs and outputs

Completed projects	Status
Marine Estate Management Strategy - Implementation Plan 2022-2024	Published 2022
Aboriginal Maritime Safety Plan	Published 2021
Marine Estate Management Strategy - Implementation Plan 2020-2021	Published March 2021
Marine Estate Management Act 2014 – five-year statutory review	Completed 2020 (tabled Parliament 17 December)
Marine Integrated Monitoring Program Evaluation Framework	Published December 2019
Marine Estate Management Strategy - Implementation Plan 2018-2020	Published October 2019
Maritime Infrastructure Plan 2019-2024	Released December 2018
Hawkesbury Shelf marine bioregion assessment - explore mechanisms to enhance conservation of marine biodiversity in the Hawkesbury Shelf marine bioregion (Newcastle - Sydney - Wollongong)	Discussion paper released August-September 2018
Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2028)	Published 16 Aug 2018
Marine Estate Management (Management Rules) Regulation 1999 amended to implement final decision regarding 10 ocean beach and headland sanctuary zones sites in four marine parks in relation to shore–based recreational line fishing	Gazetted June 2018
Guidelines for assessing management options for the NSW marine estate	Published October 2017
NSW Marine Protected Areas Policy Statement	Published October 2017
Marine Estate Management Regulation	Remade September 2017
Statewide Threat and Risk Assessment	Published October 2017
Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel evaluation of processes and role in NSW marine estate management	Published 2016 in MEMA’s annual report
Threat and risk assessment framework	Published June 2015
Marine Estate Management Act 2014	Commenced December 2014
Social research, through a statewide survey to capture NSW community views on the marine estate	Published July 2014
The Authority’s vision and principles determined, to guide management of the marine estate	Published November 2013
Moratorium provisions in Marine Parks Act 1997 amended to allow for changes to zoning including alteration of sanctuary zones	Passed Parliament August 2013