3/07/2012 1 Shipping and the Environment: The Great Barrier Reef Perspective Regional Ports Conference 28 June 2012 Mr Andrew Skeat, General Manager, Marine Park Management Introduction The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest natural feature and one of the most diverse
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Andrew Skeat, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: Shipping and the environment: The Great Barrier Reef perspective
Andrew Skeat, General Manager, Marine Park Management, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority delivered this presentation at the 2012 Regional Ports conference in Perth/Australia. showcase the latest port developments and assess the policy, planning and operating strategies designed to maximise the efficiency of Australia's regional ports: gateways for facilitating trade, engagement and regional growth. For more information, please visit www.informa.com.au/regionalports13
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Transcript
3/07/2012
1
Shipping and the Environment: The
Great Barrier Reef PerspectiveRegional Ports Conference 28 June 2012
Mr Andrew Skeat,General Manager, Marine Park Management
Introduction
The Great Barrier Reef is the worlds largest
natural feature and one of the most diverse
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2
Good news
The Great Barrier Reef is:
• One of the most diverse and remarkable ecosystems in the world
• One of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems
• A leading example of world's best practice management
• Anticipated increases in shipping from 0 to 12 per
annum initially
Fitzroy Terminal Project – New Port Proposal
• new port in Raglan Creek (close to Port Alma)
• 1 berth/jetty
• Transhipping in the Marine Park
• Anticipated increases in shipping from 0 to 60 per
annum initially
Balaclava Island– New Port Proposal
• new port on Balaclava Island (close to Port Alma)
• 1 berth/jetty
• Involves 5.5 million cubic metres of dredging
• Disposal site unknown (Marine Park likely)
• Anticipated increases in shipping from 0 to over 60 per
annum initially
Wongai Underground Mine Proposal
Port of Townsville Berth 12 and Port
Expansion
Fitzroy Terminal Project
Balaclava Island Coal Terminal
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In Summary
1. Currently 298 mtpa coal export throughout all of Australia in 2010
(31% of the worlds total)
2. The biggest coal export port in the world proposed at Abbot Point
3. Between 700 and 800 million tonnes of coal being proposed for
export from GBR Region ports, with ships travelling through the
Marine Park
4. If approved, the current proposals for new ports and expansion of
existing ports may have local and regional impacts on the GBR and
its users
Major GBRMPA
ConcernsDeclining inshore Great Barrier Reef:
1. potential impacts of dredging and dredge
material disposal at sea are
i. the reduction of light penetration,
ii. direct smothering of benthic habitats,
iii. consequent impacts on inshore fauna and
impacts on other users of the Marine Park
2. Increase in shipping and associated risks
3. Impacts of coal pollution
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Outlook Report
•Produced by the GBRMPA
Key Threats:
• Climate change
• Catchment runoff
• Coastal development
• Fishing
Outlook Report 2009
"The impact of dredging and construction of port
facilities – such as seabed disturbance,
transport and re-suspension of contaminants,
alteration of sediment movement and changes
in coastal processes – can be significant, but
are localised."
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Management of
Shipping in the GBR
� Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) declaration in 1990
� Compulsory pilotage regime implemented in 1991
� Ship reporting system established in 1997 where ships are required to report their position
� Coastal vessel traffic service in 2004 allowing near real time monitoring of ship traffic
� Zoning plan introduced in 2004 allowing
ships to transit the reef in Designated
Shipping Areas only
� Emergency management towage system
in 2006
� An extensive aids-to-navigation network
such as lights, buoys and satellite
systems
� Extension of the vessel traffic service
REEFVTS (ship reporting and monitoring
system) to the southern most boundary
of the Great Barrier Reef in July 2011
Management of Shipping
(continued)
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Designated Shipping
Area
•Ships may only navigate within
the DSA and the General Use
Zone.
•Ship operators require a permit
from GBRMPA to navigate outside
the DSA or General Use Zone.
•Fines up to A$5.5 million apply
for operating a ship in a zone
other than those mentioned
above without the written
permission of the GBRMPA.
Compulsory Pilotage
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• Mandatory reporting
• Monitoring and surveillance
•Automatic Identification
System
•Automated Position Reporting
•VHF Reporting
Vessel Tracking
Service
VTS has reduced groundings by about 80%
GBR Strategic
Assessment
GBRMPA and the Queensland Government have formally agreed to undertake a comprehensive strategic assessment of the Great Barrier
Reef World Heritage Area and adjacent coastal zone
• It will examine the effectiveness of existing management arrangements in protecting Great Barrier Reef values
• It will also look at the cumulative impacts of development proposals on Great Barrier Reef values
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GBR Strategic
Assessment
SHIPPING
CUMULATIVE
IMPACTS
WATER
QUALITY
INITIATIVES
ISLAND MGT
QUEENSLAND ASSESSMENT
GBRMPA ASSESSMENT
Terms of Reference
• Describe existing management arrangements
• Describe GBR values (matters of national environmental significance)
• Identify and analyse impacts, including cumulative impacts, on GBR values
• Describe how management arrangements avoid, mitigate, offset impacts on GBR values
• Identify key uncertainties and risks in decision making processes, describe how these will be addressed, including monitoring, reporting and adaptive management processes
• Recommend changes to existing management arrangements where deficiencies are identified
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GBR Strategic
AssessmentBoth Strategic Assessments are being carried out under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
2012
• Public comments received for draft Terms of Reference (April)
• Comments considered and final TORs being prepared (June)
• NOW - Draft strategic assessment
2013
• Public comment on draft strategic assessment (March)