MEMA 33 summary minutes

Published 21 October 2021

August 2019

Anthea Tinney chaired the meeting. Authority members or their nominees in attendance were:

Chair, Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel (and as Acting Authority Chair)
Director General, Department of Primary Industries
A/Coordinator General, Environment, Energy and Science, Department Planning & Environment
A/Executive Director, Resources Policy and Reform Implementation, Planning and Assessment Department Planning & Environment
A/Executive Director, Centres for Road and Maritime Safety, Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

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

Marine Estate Management Strategy

The Authority noted progress on implementation of Stage 1 of the Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2020). The quarterly report to the Authority was considered and progress noted on the various projects across the marine estate. The Authority also noted the key highlights that have been achieved to date, including significant on-ground works to improve water quality, multiple projects that have engaged Aboriginal people in the management of Sea Country on the South Coast of NSW, progress on actions to reduce threats to threatened and protected species and foundational work to establish harvest strategies for NSW fisheries, to name a few. Information on these projects can be found on the marine estate website under strategy implementation. A summary of progress will be included in the Authority’s annual report, which will be available on the marine estate website later in the year.

The Authority discussed options to plan for, and resource, Stage 2 of the Strategy.

Further information about the final Marine Estate Management Strategy (2018-2028) can be found on the Authority’s website.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

Work on the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program continues, with considerable input from the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel. An Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been developed by Aither (consultants) to integrate social, cultural, economic and environmental elements in the Program, monitor the effectiveness of the Marine Estate Management Strategy, address knowledge gaps and monitor threats to the benefits and assets of the marine estate. Inter-agency technical working groups have been established and a workshop held in July to develop a marine estate community wellbeing framework. A second workshop will be held in September to finalise the community wellbeing framework and embed it in the MIMP.

The integrated monitoring and evaluation framework and broader Marine Integrated Monitoring Program will be published on the marine estate website when finalised.

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 were invited from interested local community members and closed at 5pm Sunday 22 September 2019. Applications are under consideration and appointment outcomes advised on the marine 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 are working 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 Authority has also provided several briefings to the Sydney Costal Council Group on implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy in July and August 2019.

The NSW Coastal Council includes representation of two Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel members and the NSW Coastal Council Secretariat attends regular Marine Estate Agency Steering Committee meetings. The NSW Coastal Council provides strategic advice on coastal management reforms.

Water Quality Working Group

The Water Quality Working Group (WQWG), state agencies and organisations responsible for water management in NSW, continue to meet regularly. The WQWG was established to assist the Authority to explore opportunities that maximise each agencies’ resources to achieve catchment-based water quality outcomes that will benefit the NSW marine estate, and fulfil commitments in Initiative 1 of the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

The WQWGcontinues to progress the development of a Cleaner Catchments 2028 Strategy (CC28) which will provide a strategic statewide approach to stormwater management, addressing issues such as funding, governance, priority catchments and integration with the NSW planning system. It is expected CC28 will be published on the marine estate website when finalised in 2020.

Other areas of focus for the WQWG has been a review of urban stormwater management, building capacity for agencies and updating the NSW water quality objectives.

New Authority chair

Dr Russell Reichelt has been appointed as the new independent Chair of the Authority. Dr Reichelt recognises that a sustainable ocean economy relies on a healthy ocean. He has extensive experience in marine science, policy and management, particularly in marine parks, tourism and fisheries. During his 11 years as Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority he built partnerships with numerous government departments, tourism, farming, local government, traditional owners, scientific agencies and the not-for-profit sector. Dr Reichelt’s full bio can be found on the marine estate website.

The Authority also wishes to thank and acknowledge outgoing Chair, Dr Wendy Craik. Dr Craik has led the most significant marine estate reforms in NSW’s history. Under her astute leadership, the Authority has met the challenges of completing many of the key projects under its schedule of works set by the NSW Government.

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. The Authority has sought legal advice on how this may affect the ex-officio membership on the Authority.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Authority is scheduled for November 2019.