MEMA 35 summary minutes

Published 21 October 2021

May 2020

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

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

The Authority considered 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 (Strategy) - 2018-2020. The quarterly report (for 1 October 2019 – 31 December 2019) to the Authority was endorsed, with progress and risks noted on the various actions being delivered across the marine estate. Despite considerable environmental challenges due to the bushfires in late 2019, the Strategy continued to progress well, remaining within scope for this quarter.

The Authority endorsed the development and publishing of Strategy progress updates to the marine estate website. These updates will be published each quarter and will provide the community with regular information on Strategy implementation.

More information on Strategy implementation can be found on the marine estate website.

The Authority continues to plan for Stage 2 implementation of the Strategy, due to commence in July 2020.

NSW bushfire recovery

A number of marine estate agency staff were involved in the NSW bushfire response and recovery efforts which resulted in some delays in Strategy implementation in early 2020. Marine estate agency staff have undertaken an assessment of the impacts on delivery of Stage 1 and outlined mitigation measures to continue to deliver actions were feasible.

In January the NSW Government committed $5 million of funding to local councils to support actions under the NSW Bushfire Affected Coastal Waterways Program.

The effects of the bushfires have the potential to degrade coastal waterways by impacting water quality and coastal ecosystems which, in turn, has the potential to impact local industries such as tourism and aquaculture.

For more information on the program, and how to apply for grants, visit: Bushfire Affected Coastal Waterways Grants.

Marine Integrated Monitoring Program

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

A consultant has been engaged to develop and implement the integrated monitoring and evaluation framework. Innovative work is underway to develop a methodology with consultants to fill social, cultural and economic knowledge gaps, and measure community wellbeing relative to the marine estate. The framework has now been published and information on other elements of the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program will be updated on the marine estate website.

Marine park pilots

A new approach to managing NSW marine parks has commenced with pilot projects underway in Batemans and Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Parks in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Estate Management Act 2014. For the first time the plan will identify the environmental, social, cultural and economic values to be managed in the marine park, as well as ways to address the threats to those values.

Information previously collected from the community will also inform the pilot, including the Marine Estate Community Survey and the statewide Threat and Risk Assessment. Stage one engagement with State, local government and local community representatives has concluded. A Batemans community and visitor survey and three workshops were held with stakeholders in Port Stephens-Great Lakes marine park in late 2019. All reports will be published on the marine estate web site.

Further community engagement is planned in 2020.

Marine Park Advisory Committees

Four marine park advisory committees’ terms expired in 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 called, and appointments are now listed 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 agencies continue to work closely with local government to ensure synergies between the implementation of the Strategy and the development of Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). The Authority continues to develop 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 Strategy implementation, Strategy projects occurring in each local government area, links to CMPs and future opportunities.

Chair meetings

Dr Russell Reichelt, Authority Chair, attended a range of meetings with various stakeholders, including the NSW Coastal Council Chair and Ministers for the marine estate. Dr Reichelt provided updates on marine estate reforms, progress with the Strategy and discussed opportunities to work collaboratively, particularly on coastal reforms and with local government.

Next meeting

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