Summary meeting minutes of the Marine Estate Management Authority.

Meeting date: 16 June 2022

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, Dept Planning and Environment – Environment and Heritage Group
• Deputy Director General, Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries
• Director Policy, standing in for Executive Director, State Policy and Strategic Advice, Department Planning and Environment – Planning
• Director Maritime and Transport Safety Strategy, standing in for Chief, Centres for Road Safety and Maritime Safety, Transport for NSW

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

Marine park management planning

Public consultation on the NSW Government’s draft Management Plan for the NSW Mainland Marine Park Network 2021-2031 (draft plan) has now closed. The draft plan was on exhibition from 1 November 2021 until 31 January 2022.  The draft plan has been developed to guide the management of the state’s five existing mainland marine parks, with comprehensive feedback provided by the five mainland marine park advisory committees, ten government agencies and the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.

The community provided feedback on the future management of the state’s five mainland marine parks, which provide a range of biodiversity conservation, cultural, commercial and recreational benefits. The five mainland marine parks in NSW include Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port Stephens-Great Lakes, Jervis Bay and Batemans marine parks. A management plan for Lord Howe Island Marine Park is being developed separately.

An independent external consultant has undertaken an analysis of community and stakeholder feedback and has reviewed all submissions received. This feedback has been considered and has improved the development of the final Management Plan for the NSW Mainland Marine Park Network 2021-2031 as it nears completion.  A report summarising engagement with Aboriginal communities has also been prepared by an independent consultant. Both reports have been now considered by the Authority, who will submit the reports, a summary of community and stakeholder findings and a final plan to the Ministers responsible for the NSW marine estate for consideration.

The plan does not include any specific proposals around changes to marine park rules or zones. The detail of any proposed changes to rules or zones will be developed in stage 2 and will be subject to further community consultation.

For more information visit www.marine.nsw.gov.au/yoursay

Marine Estate Management Strategy investment

On 17 June 2022 the NSW Government announced more than $180 million in new funding over the final six years of the Strategy’s implementation, through to 2028, to continue to fund projects that protect the state’s iconic coast and estuaries and support stronger coastal communities and industries, building on the $105 million committed to date.

This timely, long-term record level of investment in the NSW marine estate will build on the progress of the first four years of the Strategy, which have already delivered strong outcomes and received state, national and international acclaim.

Many coastal industries are still overcoming the effects of recent natural disasters and this funding will help coastal businesses to recover, boost their productivity and strengthen regional employment.

The Marine Estate Management Strategy will continue to address the greatest threats to our marine estate through projects such as reef restoration, riverbank stabilisation, researching fertiliser use and ways to reduce sediment runoff from farms and working with Aboriginal communities to deliver cultural and economic outcomes on Sea Country. These projects are helping to improve water quality by reducing pollution, ensure our coastal habitats can thrive under the effects of climate change and increase Aboriginal people’s role in protecting cultural values and managing Sea Country.

For more information about the range of projects and key achievements within the Marine Estate Management Strategy, visit www.marine.nsw.gov.au/strategy-implementation.

Marine Estate Management Strategy implementation – Year 4

The Authority noted the progress on implementation of the ten-year Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy), currently in its fourth year of implementation. Trimester reporting for the period ending 28 February 2022 was endorsed and now been published on the marine estate website.

Details on the full set of projects underway in 2021/22are outlined in the Strategy Implementation Plan.

Marine Estate Management Strategy evaluation

The formative/baseline evaluation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy was delivered in September 2021. The evaluation report, Baseline evaluation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy 2021, included 13 recommendations to address to improve the process, delivery, reporting, and governance of the Strategy.   The Authority noted progress in addressing the recommendations, which are on track.

Marine estate economic valuation project

The Authority noted the completion of stage 1 of the marine estate economic valuation project. Its primary focus was to determine the economic contribution of marine based industries to the economy of NSW. The project is one of several economic projects under the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

The results of this study will provide vital economic data to support justification for ongoing investment in the management of the marine estate. It will also establish critical baseline economic data to fill key knowledge gaps and to help monitor condition and trend in the economic health of the marine estate, and to assess management effectiveness of the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

The project has been led by Deloitte Access Economics in partnership with marine estate agencies and will be published on the marine estate website shortly.

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.

Work continues on the development of report cards, filling key knowledge gaps, developing a communications and engagement plan; and scoping the 5-year review of the statewide threat and risk assessment in cooperation with our partners.

A MIMP database is continuing to be developed and tested, including a linked threat and risk assessment database. Data collection and management have been a key focus this year.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for September 2022.