Workshop on response to hazardous chemical spills in the Great Barrier Reef Region : proceedings of a workshop held in Townsville on 3 August 1984 and background papers

Abstract

The Department of Transport, as part of their responsibility for the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil, has been preparing a, response plan for the Great Barrier Reef Region. An element of t.hat plan which has not yet been .finalised is the scientific response which might be initiated in the event of an oil spill. Such a response has two components; to provide advice on environment protection matters, and to investigate the spill and control measures to provide information which may improve future responses. Oil spills are an area of potential concern, but there may be other hazardous chemicals transported through the Great Barrier Reef Region. To date, there appears to have been little attention directed towards either a scientific or environmental protection, response, in the event of a spill of hazardous chemicals other than oil in the . Great Barrier Reef Region. There may be a need to link plans to protect the Reef from an oil spill with similar responses in the event of other hazardous spills.