Summary meeting minutes of the Marine Estate Management Authority.

Meeting date: 16 September 2021

Attendance

Authority members or their nominees in attendance were:

• Chair, Marine Estate Management Authority (Dr Russell Reichelt AO FTSE)
• Chair, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel (Ms Anthea Tinney PSM)
• Deputy Secretary, Biodiversity, Conservation and Science, Department of Planning and Environment
• Director General, Department of Primary Industries
• Deputy Director General, Department of Primary Industries Fisheries
• Chief, Centres for Road and Maritime Safety
• Executive Director, State Policy and Strategic Advice, Department of Planning and Environment – Planning and Assessment.

Matters considered

The Authority considered a range of matters at the meeting including those summarised below.

Marine Estate Management Strategy implementation (2018-2028)

The Authority noted the progress on implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy(Strategy) and endorsed the quarterly report for the period ending 30 June 2021. Progress and risk status were noted on over 100+ projects being delivered across the marine estate. Significant achievements for the April to June 2021 quarter are outlined in the Strategy Snapshot – year 3, quarter 4 report.

Significant work has been achieved this quarter across the nine initiatives including:

• the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration was hosted in Nelson Bay with over 100 delegates in attendance
• an additional 1.5 ha of oyster reef area was added to Myall and Karuah sites in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park (total now 2.5ha). Shellfish Reef Restoration Guidelines were published and made available digitally via the marine estate website and at the International Conference.
• a Decision Support Tool (DST) has been developed and is now in testing at over 60 estuarine sites, designed to assist experts identify erosion, qualify its severity and recommend best management practice treatment in a consistent manner
• approximately 52 hectares of riverbank vegetation improvements and maintenance works were completed in the Central region (Newcastle-Shellharbour)
• development of a first-pass method to predict migration of mangrove and saltmarsh under sea level rise, with a manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed journal
• the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) declared the first ever marine mammal special protection order under the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 on 29 June, which prevented boats, aircraft, drones and swimmers from approaching within 500 m of a Southern Right Whale that entered Wallis Lake
• completed meetings with Worimi and Yaegl traditional owners to expand the existing Sea Country School Education Program from the Southern Region of NSW to the Central and Northern Regions
• there has been over 361 downloads of the online version of the South Coast Sea Country Schools Education program
• a partnership with Heritage NSW and MEMS Initiative 3 (Planning for Climate Change) resulted in the repatriation of 7,000-year-old skeletal remains from a site near Batemans Bay which was being eroded by wave action. Three Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the Native Title applicants were also involved.
• finalised fieldwork assessing the best jetty designs to preserve protected seagrass in Port Hacking under the reviewing jetty designs project
• the Private Mooring Map website is now live which enables users to locate available private moorings, enquire regarding wait lists and applicable restrictions, and submit applications
• developed and published the Sea Turtle and Sea Snake Rehabilitation Training Standards for the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector, and guidelines for the initial treatment and care of rescued sea turtles
• 16 sea days were completed this quarter with observers on board the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, to observe bycatch and interactions with threatened and protected species (131 days completed 2020/2021)
• coordinated compliance patrols, advisory opportunities and information sharing with NSW Police Marine Area Command, Transport for NSW, NPWS, Crown Lands and local Councils in the Greater Sydney region, producing positive compliance outcomes and greater collaboration.

Details on the full set of projects underway are outlined in the Strategy Implementation Plan.

The Authority discussed options being developed to resource the continued delivery of Strategy beyond current funding commitments ending June 2022.

Marine Estate Management Strategy evaluation (2018-2020)

The Authority commissioned an independent baseline evaluation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy’s implementation over its first two years (2018-2020). The requirements for periodic evaluation to measure success is outlined in the MIMP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Framework).  This baseline evaluation focussed on two components: process and outcomes. The report found that during the first two years of implementation, the Strategy has built strong foundations for future success. Robust project management systems and governance arrangements were established and consolidated. Significant improvements in coordination and collaboration were recognised as especially important enablers of successful implementation.

The report acknowledges the Strategy, in its first two years, experienced several significant challenges that led to re-scoping of some projects and unavoidable delays. These challenges included the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, floods, the COVID 19 pandemic, a number of Machinery of Government changes and long-term funding uncertainty.

The final evaluation report has 13 recommendations relating to: the need for long-term funding, improved reporting and approvals processes, managing stakeholder expectations, enhancing the Marine Integrated Monitoring Plan and advice for the upcoming statewide Threat and Risk Assessment review. The Authority agreed to review, assign actions and report on the progress of recommendations.  The evaluation report is on the marine estate website.

Consultation on marine park management planning

The NSW Government has released a draft Management Plan for the NSW Mainland Marine Park Network (2021-2031) to seek stakeholder and community input into the future of the management of five marine parks along the NSW coast, which include:

• Cape Byron
• Solitary Islands
• Port Stephens-Great Lakes
• Jervis Bay
• Batemans.

The draft 10-year plan identifies the environmental, social, cultural and economic values to be conserved by marine parks, the threats to those values and also provides a road map for their future management. It sets out a simpler and more consistent approach to managing the network of marine parks along the coast of mainland NSW while also taking into account their unique issues and needs.

The draft plan identifies certain issues that may benefit from the use of rules and zoning, but it does not include any specific rules or zones.  The detail of any rules or zones will be developed in stage 2 after the plan is finalised.

A draft management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park will be developed separately to address many unique issues and management arrangements for this internationally renowned marine park.

The community is invited to have their say on the management of the state’s five mainland marine parks. For more information on the draft plan visit the website where you can find videos, fact sheets and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

The plan will be open for consultation until 31 January 2022.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

Work on the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program (MIMP) continues. The MIMP monitors condition and trend of environmental assets and community benefits, guides data collection to assess management effectiveness and contributes to filling key knowledge gaps.

In addition to environmental condition monitoring programs, consultants are undertaking social surveys to understand community wellbeing associated with the NSW marine estate. Surveys have targeted coastal residents, visitors, coastal Aboriginal communities and teenagers. Surveys are due to be completed late 2021.

A workshop to discuss the requirements of the marine estate Threat and Risk Assessment five-year review was held in June with key stakeholders including members of the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.

Work continues on the development of report cards and prioritising and filling key knowledge gaps, in cooperation with our partners.

Authority Schedule of Works

The Authority periodically updates its schedule of works. The Schedule outlines MEMA’s priority of current marine estate programs and key outputs. The updated Schedule can be found on the marine estate website.

Authority governance

The Authority periodically updates its governance protocols.  The revised Authority Protocol Manual and Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel Terms of Reference include minor updates and recent changes in membership under section 7 of the Marine Estate Management Act 2014 (Act) following Machinery of Government Changes in 2020. The Authority endorsed the publishing of the following:

• Authority Protocol Manual
• Knowledge Panel Terms of Reference.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for December 2021.