Getting involved

Community involvement and input in planning marine conservation reserves is essential in order to ensure that reserve planning reflects local issues and concerns and utilises local knowledge and experience. The department seeks input through a range of community consultative mechanisms that can include focus groups, community-based workshops and advisory committees, and other participation mechanisms and through comprehensive consultation with key stakeholders and the community. 

Planning marine parks and reserves is an extensive process involving many steps and participants. The process is a 'legal' requirement of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. Regardless of the consultative mechanisms employed, there opportunity is for comment on the draft indicative management plan during its preparation and as the vision, goals, boundaries, and proposed zoning for the reserve are developed. Consultation options and opportunities may vary due to the different nature of each marine conservation reserve proposal but are likely to include calls for public comment, submissions through an advisory committee, a sector reference group, or this website, and public workshops. To find out the best way to comment on a specific reserve proposal please contact the department or refer to the appropriate section on this website.

Formal public submissions period

Following finalisation of the indicative management plan, it is formally released for a three-month public submissions period. At this time, you can provide a formal written submission on the plan or make a submission via this website. The submissions are summarised in a ‘Report of Public Submissions’ for consideration by the MPRA and the Minister for the Environment.

Research and monitoring initiatives in the area

You can also get involved in community-based research and monitoring initiatives, which will contribute to the future management and protection of this area. Information from such efforts makes an important contribution to our ecological and social knowledge of the area and helps ensure that planning is based on the best information available. It also provides a baseline of information against which future management efforts can be evaluated. To find out more, contact the Marine Community Project Officer on 9336 0123.

Further details on the above opportunities are available within the individual reserve sections.