Who's who of planning

Community

The 'community' is an all encompassing term which comprises all interested parties (ie. local residents, Aboriginal communities, commercial and recreational groups, State-wide organisations and the general public). A number of mechanisms are used to facilitate effective community participation in the development of the proposal. These include the establishment of an independently chaired, community-based advisory committee, the formation of sector reference groups and general strategies to inform the broader community and allow opportunities for input and participation (eg. workshops, information days, communication products and the website).

The Marine Parks and Reserves Authority (MPRA)

The MPRA is an independent authority, in which marine conservation reserves are vested (i.e. legally entrusted to), on behalf of all Western Australians. The Authority's functions include the provision of advice to the Minister for the Environment in relation to marine conservation reserve proposals, and to submit management plans for areas that are vested in the Authority. In planning proposed marine conservation reserves the Authority provides broad policy direction to the advisory committee for each reserve and will generally have an observer at meetings to facilitate information exchange and to provide advice as required.

The Department of Environment and Conservation

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was formed on the 1 July 2006 through the amalgamation of the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Department of Environment. DEC has the primary responsibilty for managing WA's marine conservation reserves, and to prepare management plans for consideration by the MPRA. The department facilitates the overall planning process, and specifically supports the Advisory Committee to develop the indicative management plan. DEC provides technical and policy advice relating o marine conservation matters, and coordinates communications between the committee, sector reference groups, Government departments and the broader community.

Other Government agencies

Local Government, and a number of State Government agencies, will have responsibilities and/or an interest in the marine conservation reserve proposal. The Department of Fisheries, in particular, has responsibility for managing fish stocks and fisheries throughout State waters and has an important role within marine conservation reserves. Government agencies are invited to participate in the planning process and may be involved in a number of ways. Representatives are invited to attend advisory committee meetings as observers, and may be asked to brief the committee on aspects of Government policy or technical information relevant to the proposal. In this way the process takes an integrated management approach to ensure that the ecological and social values will be managed effectively and efficiently when the reserve is established.

The Minister for the Environment

The Minister for the Environment is responsible under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) for the establishment of marine conservation reserves. The Minister reviews the advice of the MPRA and, after seeking the required approvals of other Ministers, publishes a Notice of Intent to create the marine conservation reserve and releases the indicative management plan, for public comment.

The Minister for Fisheries, and the Minister responsible for administration of the Mining Act 1978

The creation of marine conservation reserves has potential to affect the use of an area for commercial fishing, aquaculture/pearling, recreational fishing, petroleum exploration and production and mining. In recognition of this, the CALM Act requires that the Minister for the Environment must seek the approval of the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister responsible for the administration of the Mining Act 1978 before the releaseof an indicative management plan and Notice of Intent to establish a reserve. Following the consideration of public comment, the Minister for the Environment must obtain the concurrence of the Minister for Fisheries, and the Minister for Resources and Assisting the Minister for State Development before proceeding with the creation of the reserve.