MEMA 34 summary minutes

Published 21 October 2021

November 2019

Dr Russell Reichelt chaired the meeting. Authority members or their nominees in attendance were:

Chair, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel
A/Deputy Director General Fisheries, Department of Primary Industries
Deputy Secretary, Environment, Energy and Science, Department Planning and Environment
Executive Director, Centres for Road and Maritime Safety, Transport for NSW.

The Authority discussed a number of matters at the meeting including those summarised below.

Showcased internationally

In September 2019 the statewide Threat and Risk Assessment (TARA) and the Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2028) were presented as a case study to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in New York who are considering the management of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (ocean area covering 41% of the earth’s surface). It was an opportunity to showcase Australia’s novel and innovative approaches to marine planning and management and this was recognised by the Australian delegation represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Key points communicated to United Nation delegates included:

consideration of social and economic benefits in the same framework as natural environmental benefits and biodiversity
comprehensive assessment of all threats and assignment of a risk level in order to prioritise management and research on those threats that are most significant
scalability of the threat and risk assessment process
ability to deal with cumulative threats and better understand vulnerability, e.g., environmental assets that are affected by multiple threats
developing a risk-based matrix that could be reviewed and updated over time in response to new threats or the effectiveness of management
extensive stakeholder and user group engagement across all users of the marine area.

MEMA performance report 2018-19

The Authority was pleased to endorse its 2018-19 Performance Report. The Authority has made significant progress against the NSW Government’s key commitments and reforms for the marine estate against an ambitious schedule of works and has achieved a number of significant milestones during the period. Notable achievements for the period included:

the release of the 10-year Marine Estate Management Strategy (PDF, 12612.84 KB) on 16 August 2018 by the Premier and Ministers responsible for the marine estate, with associated funding of $45.7M for the first two years of implementation to improve the coordinated management of the NSW marine estate.
commencing a new approach to marine park management planning, via a pilot at Batemans Marine Park
developing an implementation plan for the Marine Estate Management Strategy, a critical step in the delivery of a transparent and evidence-based management for the NSW marine estate
development of a marine integrated monitoring program which will assess the effectiveness and performance of the Marine Estate Management Strategy; monitoring the condition and trend of the marine estate; and filling key knowledge gaps.
rezoning of 10 ocean beach and headland sites to allow shore-based recreational fishing across four marine parks
releasing a proposal for a marine park for the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong area and coordinating community consultation

The performance report also focuses on the role and functions of the Authority and the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel. The report is now available on the marine estate website () PDF, 3052.79 KB.

Marine Estate Management Strategy

The Authority noted progress on implementation of Stage 1 of the Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy) (2018-2020). The quarterly report to the Authority was considered and progress noted on the various projects across the marine estate.

The Authority was also pleased to endorse the first Strategy implementation annual report for 2018-19 () PDF, 2397.9 KB. The report provides an overview of achievements over the past 12 months including key foundational work providing the basis for MEMS implementation. It also provides an overview of the extensive range of partners and stakeholders each initiative is working with, key project highlights and initiative level deliverables during year 1 of Stage 1.

Notable deliverables and achievements include:

Over $2.6 million has been invested in delivery of on-ground works at 41 sites to reduce water pollution by rehabilitating riverbanks and reducing erosion from rural roads and tracks that adjoin estuaries (Initiative 1).
working with local government and key stakeholders to implement the risk based framework to improve waterway health outcomes in land use planning decisions to support stormwater management in urban catchments.
Supporting Seafood Futures (Initiative 6) - the NSW Government launched a new program to put more local seafood on more NSW plates via a $1 million grants program.
Sea Country Ranger programs (Initiative 4) – stronger connections with Aboriginal communities and the marine estate at Batemans and Jervis Bay Marine Parks is being delivered via training of over 90 Aboriginal community members in vessel handling/boat licensing, deckhand training, weed removal and herbicide application, building of traditional bark canoe cultural projects for Aboriginal elders and youths.
Marine wildlife response (Initiative 5) – delivering marine wildlife response and preparedness training to over 180 staff and key stakeholders through 8 training courses. Alongside this, a collaborative workshop was held between the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) and National Parks and Wildlife (NPWS) to discuss rescue, science and cooperative arrangements.
Harvest strategies (Initiative 6) – a statewide harvest strategy workshop was hosted in May 2019 by DPI Fisheries to define how to evaluate ecological risk in addressing threats to fish assemblages from harvest and bycatch, identify opportunities and challenges in progression of harvest strategy policy development, and learn from other State agencies from around Australia who have harvest strategies in place. This foundational work will inform a statewide policy for harvest strategy development.

Information on these and other Strategy projects can be found on the marine estate website under strategy implementation.

The Authority further discussed options to plan for, and resource, Stage 2 of the Strategy, commencing in July 2020.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

Work on the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program continues, with considerable input from the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.

The Authority was pleased to endorse the final Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework developed by staff and Aither (consultants), to integrate social, cultural, economic and environmental elements in the Program, monitor the effective delivery of the Marine Estate Management Strategy, address knowledge gaps and monitor threats to the benefits and assets of the marine estate.

The integrated monitoring and evaluation framework is published on the marine estate website. Information on other elements of the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program will be updated on the marine estate website in due course.

Marine park advisory committees

Four marine park advisory committees’ terms expired in August 2019. The NSW Government sought nominations publicly for all positions on the following marine parks: Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay and Batemans marine parks. Nominations closed in September 2019 and applications are under consideration. When finalised appointments will be advised on the marine estate website.

These committees provide a voice for local communities in the management of the NSW marine estate and local marine parks. They engage with local communities and stakeholders, provide a forum for local communities to identify values, threats, issues and opportunities, contribute valuable local knowledge to decision making processes and provide feedback to the NSW government to support continuous improvement. The following interests are represented on the committees, Aboriginal culture, commercial fishing, local government, marine conservation, marine science, maritime industry, recreational boating, recreational fishing, recreational water use and tourism.

Further information can be found on the marine estate website under marine park advisory committees.

Coastal reforms

Marine Estate Management Authority agencies continue to work closely with local government to ensure synergies between the implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy and the development of Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). The Authority has developed communication materials to assist local government understand the links between the Strategy and CMPs. These can be found on the marine estate web site. The Authority has met with local government representatives via Joint Organisation of Councils and other meetings along the NSW coast to discuss the MEMS implementation, MEMS projects occurring in each local government area, links to Coastal Management Programs and future opportunities.

The Marine Estate Management Strategy was recently showcased at the NSW Coastal Conference held in Terrigal in November this year with seven papers and six posters on the Strategy delivered at the conference, including the delivery of a dedicated Strategy session.

Authority membership

Following the NSW State election in March this year and subsequent machinery of government changes to NSW government agencies effective 1 July 2019, three of the four Authority ex-officio agency members (Department of Industry, Office of Environment and Heritage and Department of Planning and Environment) were amalgamated into the newly formed Department of Planning and Environment (DPE). Instruments of Appointment under the Marine Estate Management Act have now been put in place so MEMA can continue to perform its functions and hold meetings until amendments to the Act can be made in the New Year).

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for February 2020.