G r e at B a r r i e r R e e f M a r i n e Pa r k A u t h o r i t y Annual Report 2010-11 G R E AT B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E PA R K A U T H O R I T Y Annual Report 2010-11 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Government, available from the Attorney-General's Department. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and right should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Copyright Law Branch, Attorney-General's Department, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2601, or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. ISSN: 0155-8072 Web address of this report: www.gbrmpa.gov.au Prepared by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Designed by: Verve Design Contact officer Director Communication Section Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 Telephone: 07 4750 0700 Fax: 07 4772 6093 Email: info@gbrmpa.gov.au Web: www.gbrmpa.gov.au II G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 28 October 2011 The Hon. Tony Burke MP Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Minister In accordance with subsection 53(1) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, I submit the Annual Report of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for the year ended 30 June 2011. This Annual Report has been prepared following the Requirements for Annual Reports issued by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Yours sincerely Russell Reichelt Chairman 3 III G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 2009-10 Figure 1: Map of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park IV GG RE RA ET A TB A BR A R IREI R E RR E RE EF E FMM AR A IRN IN E EP A PR AK RK AU AT UH TO HO R IRTI Y T Y• •Annual Annual Report Report 2008-09 2010-11 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION In this Annual Report Chairman's review OVERVIEW About the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Organisational structure Responsible Minister Legislative framework Finances overview Staff overview PERFORMANCE Section 1. Addressing key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Overview Climate Change Action Plan Improving water quality Protecting the ecosystem, species and coastal habitats Implementing Reef Rescue initiatives Partnering with the science community Communicating the risks and solutions Section 2. Ensure management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Overview Marine Park management Sea country management Effective Field Management Program Constructive relationships 2 2 3 9 10 11 12 12 12 14 16 16 19 20 27 30 35 38 40 42 44 45 55 56 62 V G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Section 3. Maintain a high performing, effective and efficient organisation Overview Effective knowledge management Good governance Reef HQ Aquarium Communication and education MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY Corporate governance The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Audit Committee Advisory committees Corporate and operational plans Service Charter Ethical standards Social justice and equity Internal and external scrutiny Australian National Audit Office reports Internal Audit reports Commonwealth Ombudsman Management of human resources People management Enterprise agreements Training and staff development Occupational health and safety Workplace diversity Providing access for people with disabilities Assets management 65 66 67 69 71 73 79 80 80 82 84 87 88 88 89 89 89 90 90 91 91 91 92 92 93 93 94 VI G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Purchasing Delegations Chief Executive Instructions Consultants and contracts Grant programs FINANCES Analysis of financial performance Financial statements APPENDICES Appendix A: Agency resource statement Appendix B: Staffing overview Appendix C: Consultancy services Appendix D: Freedom of information Appendix E: Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance Appendix F: Papers and presentations by GBRMPA staff Appendix G: Queensland Government Financials 2010-11 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 95 95 95 95 96 97 98 101 158 161 162 167 170 175 181 201 VII G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figures Figure 1: Map of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Figure 2: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority organisation structure (as of 30 June 2011) Figure 3: Income by source 2010-11 Figure 4: Expenses by category 2010-11 Figure 5: Type and number of permissions granted during 2010-11 Figure 6: Tourist visits in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park since 2004-05 Figure 7: Number of information reports received by the GBRMPA Field Management Program since 2004-05 Figure 8: Number of offences reported to the GBRMPA Field Management Program since 2003-04 Figure 9: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's corporate planning process TABLES Table 1: Objective 1, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 Table 2: Objective 2, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 Table 3: Number of offences reported to the GBRMPA Field Management Program during 2010-11 (by management area) Table 4: Summary of Commonwealth offences reported by management area Table 5: Summary of compliance actions taken during 2010-11 Table 6: Shipping incidents reported in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park during 2010-11 Table 7: Reef Health Impact Surveys undertaken in 2010-11 Table 8: Objective 3, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 Table 9: Quantitative Deliverables and Key Performance Indicators – Targets and Achievements since 2008-09 Table 10: Meetings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2010-11 Table 11: Meetings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Audit Committee 2010-11 Table 12a+b: Agency resource statement and expenses by outcome 2010-11 Table 13: Employee overview as at 30 June 2011 Table 14: Workplace diversity figures as at 30 June 2011 Table 15: Consultancy services let during 2010-11 of $10,000 (ex GST) or more Table 16: Media advertising and market research organisations used in 2010-11 VIII INTRODUCTION G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Annual Report 2010-11, complies with requirements for Annual Reports outlined by the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Annual Report 2010-11 is consistent with the structure of the Portfolio Budget Statement for the agency. Following the Chairman's review, the Annual Report comprises four chapters: • • • • Overview Performance Management and accountability Finances. The Overview provides a corporate background to the GBRMPA including its role and functions. A summary of financial performance and a staff overview is also provided. The Performance chapter details the 2010-11 actions of the GBRMPA to meet its stated outcome of 'long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community, through the care and development of the Marine Park.' The chapter is presented in three sections, under each of the agency's three objectives. The content details how the GBRMPA has met the deliverables and key performance indicators that relate to the objectives, and which are outlined in the agency's Portfolio Budget Statement. Section 1 presents the first objective: Addressing key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef. Section 2 addresses the second objective: Ensure that management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef. Section 3 presents the third objective: Maintain a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. The Management and accountability chapter of the Annual Report covers the delivery of the management framework that helps effective functioning of the GBRMPA, including corporate governance, statutory and advisory committees, management and training, occupational health and safety, asset management, corporate services and management of consultants. The Finances chapter delivers an analysis of financial performance and a detailed financial statement. Lastly, Appendices complete the Annual Report for the year 2010-11. 2 INTRODUCTION G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is one of the best managed and one of the most important marine environments in the world. It is home to a wide range of plants, animals and habitats of special beauty and international interest. Under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) provides for the long-term protection and conservation of the environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef Region. Its protection is not only important for the future of the marine environment, but also for the many communities and industries that depend on it for their livelihoods. Managing one of the world’s premier natural resources requires a strategic and coordinated approach. The agency focuses on addressing the key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park, and maintaining a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. GBRMPA's work in addressing the key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef is guided by the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. It identified the major threats as climate change, declining water quality from catchment run-off, loss of coastal habitats from coastal development and remaining impacts from fishing and poaching. GBRMPA has achieved a number of outcomes that address risks impacting on the Great Barrier Reef. Climate change research, mitigation and adaptation were driven through the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012. For the first time, climate modelling was applied to green turtles and seabirds at Raine Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef. The island is home to the world's largest green turtle nesting population and has been a nesting site for over 1000 years. By looking at the vulnerability of the island habitat and each species to potential climate change impacts, it is clear they are highly sensitive to climate change. This research is important for marine managers to develop response strategies. In November 2010, GBRMPA held a pre-summer workshop with its partners including the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University to review the projections for the conditions on the Great Barrier Reef over summer. Following the scientific advice provided at this workshop, the GBRMPA revised its existing incident response plans to develop the Reef Health Incident Response System. This opportunity to discuss and plan for what might lie ahead in summer became critical in early 2011, when there was major flooding along the southern Great Barrier Reef coast and category 5 cyclone Yasi crossed the coast between Townsville and Cairns. As part of a wider Australian Government response to the summer's natural disasters, GBRMPA received $1.08m to implement an Extreme Weather Response Program. The program was tailored to assess the impacts of extreme weather on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, assist Great Barrier Reef industries to prepare for and adapt to future impacts, and inform future management responses. Rapid assessments of cyclone Yasi's impact on reefs were completed in the weeks immediately after the cyclone. Through the existing Marine Monitoring Program, additional water quality sampling and seagrass health monitoring were also undertaken. Declining seagrass was identified, as well as new information on flood plumes. This research on bio-physical impacts was successfully INTRODUCTION 3 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 integrated with socio-economic research to understand how these events impacted Great Barrier Reef dependent industries within the Marine Park. Closely associated were efforts to understand the causes of death of stranded animals in order to assess the ongoing impacts of extreme weather. This information is invaluable for GBRMPA to use as a basis for developing a management response. In addition to these activities, GBRMPA undertook a number of other actions to protect the Great Barrier Reef's biodiversity. GBRMPA participated in the Australian and Queensland governments' Dugong Taskforce to review and make recommendations on ways to modify and improve the current management framework for dugong. From a fisheries perspective, through the Ecological Risk Assessment for the East Coast Trawl Fishery, GBRMPA has worked with industry to discuss how they can help to maintain a resilient ecosystem and sustain their industry into the future. All these efforts will be further enhanced through the implementation of a comprehensive Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy, which was progressed this year. Addressing the Great Barrier Reef's key risks is aided by having the best available scientific information, both through formal research programs and observations of Great Barrier Reef users. Building on the results of the four-year Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility program, the new National Environmental Research Program (NERP) Tropical Ecosystems Hub will have a major focus on the Great Barrier Reef. The GBRMPA helped develop the research program that will assist us to understand and manage the cumulative effect of stressors on the Reef. The Integrated Eye on the Reef program is also providing a better picture of the status of the Great Barrier Reef by collating information from Eye on the Reef tourism monitoring, the Sightings Network, and Reef Health and Impact Surveys. Ensuring ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is central to GBRMPA's role in managing a multiple-use area to ensure it is protected for the future. It is vital in the face of ongoing development and expansion across the communities and industries connected to the Reef. Social and economic benefits of development need to be consistent with long-term protection and conservation of the environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef Region. There has been increased coastal development and demand for resources along the Great Barrier Reef coast. During 2010-11 there was a significant increase in the number of developments in the Great Barrier Reef Region, and GBRMPA had input into 19 assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, including 16 major projects. The Australian Government works in partnership with the Queensland Government, particularly the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, to deliver an effective Field Management program, ensuring users of the Reef comply with the Zoning Plan. During the year, vessel surveillance patrols took place in targeted areas within the Marine Park, and land-based patrols were undertaken with the majority occurring in the Far Northern Region, concentrating on areas where illegal poaching activities were identified as a high risk. A focus was also on making more effective use of strategic and operational intelligence. New intelligence reporting databases were implemented and new compliance intelligence products developed, to assist field resources being allocated to issues and locations of highest risk. 4 INTRODUCTION G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Stewardship activities and partnerships are essential to effective management, as wide scale uptake of good environmental behaviour can directly improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The knowledge and close connection Traditional Owners have to the Great Barrier Reef makes them an integral partner. This year significant outcomes were achieved through the Sea Country Partnerships Program, the primary mechanism to engage Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef Region in managing marine resources. The GBRMPA worked with more than 30 Traditional Owner groups on activities related to Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements. For the first time the GBRMPA administered $500,000 grants program to assist Traditional Owner groups with a passion for looking after their sea country. The one-off grants ranging between $5000 and $50,000 allowed Traditional Owners to carry out environmental initiatives on their traditional land and sea country. They also expressed a strong desire for greater involvement in compliance activities to address illegal take through illegal netting and poaching, and the grants program is supporting communities in these activities. GBRMPA's efforts in compliance were bolstered by Traditional Owners and Indigenous rangers being trained to monitor and report illegal activities. Working closely with GBRMPA field staff, Traditional Owners were provided with the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to surveillance activities and gather intelligence. This program achieved significant conservation outcomes by addressing illegal use of nets to take turtle and dugong, and positively empowered the communities. The highly successful Reef Guardian Stewardship program received funding to strengthen its schools and councils programs and investigate opportunities for the farming and fishing industries in the Great Barrier Reef catchment. The Reef Guardian Farmers program was launched in March 2011, with a sugar cane farmers pilot program. The program showcases the good land practices that Reef Guardian Farmers are undertaking that help to improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. It aims to encourage other farmers to follow their lead. The Reef Guardian Fishers pilot program involving the Reef Line commercial fishing sector was launched in March. Six reef line fishers became part of the pilot program. They are participating in a range of voluntary activities that support the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Aquarium Fish and Coral Collection Fisheries also joined the Reef Guardian pilot program in April. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Guardian Program demonstrates that a handson community-based approach to caring for the Great Barrier Reef is essential to help preserve its immense social, economic and environmental value. The tourism industry has long been a supporter of management efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef. In 2010-11, the number of certified high standard operators in the Marine Park reached 51. More than 60 per cent of tourists are now enjoying the Great Barrier Reef through a high standard operator. ProVision Reef, the association of aquarium supply fishers, again proved that they are an industry leader when they activated their response plan for the Keppel islands area. The island fringing reef habitats were impacted by the flooding that occurred in early 2011 and the industry immediately INTRODUCTION 5 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 responded with survey information and subsequent changes to the collecting activities, including a voluntary moratorium on collecting in the affected areas. ProVision has been a longstanding and very important partner in supporting the management of the Great Barrier Reef. It is heartening to see other industries supporting this environmental stewardship ethos. The Queensland Seafood Industry Association worked closely with the GBRMPA on a range of initiatives to ensure commercial fishing in the Great Barrier Reef becomes more sustainable. This included the Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery and investigating a strategy for addressing dugong deaths in Bowling Green Bay. The GRBMPA values the advice and input from community representatives and works closely with the 11 Local Marine Advisory Committees. In September 2010, all committee chairs came to Townsville for a two-day workshop with the agency, and during the year we also benefited from input from four Reef Advisory Committees, and a range of government and community partners. A high performing, effective and efficient organisation is central to achieving our goals and objectives. The GBRMPA places importance on good systems, processes and governance, and effective education and communication activities. This year there was considerable emphasis on improving internal planning and reporting processes to ensure that goals are clearly articulated and can be measured. The Service Charter was updated to clearly outline our goals, aims, customers, and commitments to those customers. As a government agency, the GBRMPA also developed a plan to implement requirements under the Information Publication Scheme for Australian Government agencies. The Information Publication Scheme underpins a pro-disclosure culture across government, and transforms the Freedom of Information framework from one that reacts to individual requests for documents, to one that relies more heavily on agency-driven publication of information. A major project for the organisation was a comprehensive knowledge management audit, aimed at harnessing the insights of the GBRMPA staff to better understand our current approach to information sharing, project planning, systems use and other important processes. The audit culminated with recommendations on how the agency can move forward in a smarter, more strategic way. These recommendations will be addressed in a Knowledge Management Strategy and Implementation Plan for the agency. Community education was successfully delivered through the Reef HQ Aquarium, the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef. Reef HQ is important for raising awareness of the Great Barrier Reef's value, its threats, and everyone's role in protecting this great natural wonder. More than 120,000 people from around Australia and the world visited Reef HQ in person and another 5800 students experienced the Reef in a virtual way through videoconferencing. More than 23,000 visitors toured Reef HQ's Turtle Hospital, which cares for sick and injured turtles. This is important for raising awareness of threatened species and encouraging changes in behaviour that benefit these species. During the year the Turtle Hospital cared for 57 turtles. Reef HQ's value as a tourism attraction in its own right was also recognised this year when it won the major tourism attraction, ecotourism and new product development awards at the North Queensland Tourism Awards and was inducted into their hall of fame. 6 INTRODUCTION G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Broad-scale commitment to information sharing and education commenced this year through planning the redevelopment of the GBRMPA website. The website is a vital communication tool for the GBRMPA, and is important for the agency's knowledge management goals. The website attracts more than 50,000 visits per month and is key to communication about the Great Barrier Reef, its management, outlook and the many people who work to protect it. Many more achievements and activities are showcased in this Annual Report, recognising the full breadth of work undertaken to manage the Great Barrier Reef. I would like to thank my colleagues, the members of the Marine Park Authority, and acknowledge GBRMPA staff and the researchers, experts, government partners and community groups who contribute to these achievements. That there is such a strong network of people behind the Great Barrier Reef is noteworthy in itself. The year ahead presents many opportunities, particularly as we work towards further strategic plans that support the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 and ultimately the health of the Great Barrier Reef overall. These efforts see us well placed to meet the challenges ahead and to help us ensure we achieve our goal of the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use and understanding of the Great Barrier Reef. Russell Reichelt Chairman INTRODUCTION 7 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 8 OVERVIEW G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is an Australian Government statutory authority within the Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) portfolio, formerly the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts portfolio. The GBRMPA is responsible for managing one of the world's premier natural resources through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park). The GBRMPA, through the implementation of policy and programs, management strategies and legislative measures works towards the following outcome: 'The long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community, through the care and development of the Marine Park.' Delivery of this outcome is through three objectives: 1. 2. 3. Addressing the key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Maintaining a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 has provided a comprehensive assessment of what is known about the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, its use, its management and the pressures it is facing. The Outlook Report states that while the Great Barrier Reef is one of the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the world, its long-term outlook is now at a crossroads and the decisions made in the next few years are likely to determine its long-term future. A key goal of the agency is to improve the resilience and therefore the outlook of the Great Barrier Reef by developing and implementing strategies to address the key risks highlighted in the Outlook Report, including the impacts of climate change, declining water quality from catchment run-off, loss of coastal habitats from coastal development and remaining impacts from fishing and poaching. The agency has a strong interest in promoting the sustainable use of the Marine Park. This includes the use of the adjacent coast and catchments as they affect the Marine Park. Many commercial and non-commercial uses of the Great Barrier Reef Region are dependent on the biodiversity and health of its ecosystem. The agency aims to ensure that those activities occurring within the Marine Park continue to operate on an ecologically sustainable basis. The relationship between the GBRMPA, the Queensland Government and a range of other government agencies is of critical importance for effective management of the Great Barrier Reef. In particular, the Field Management Program, a jointly funded cooperative partnership between the Australian and Queensland governments, coordinates the day-to-day activities and field operations required for the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the associated Queensland Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and the World Heritage Area. 10 OVERVIEW G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The GBRMPA acknowledges and respects the native title rights and cultural responsibilities of the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef Region. Traditional Owners have a long association with the Region dating back to before the modern day Great Barrier Reef first formed. There are more than 70 Traditional Owner groups whose sea country lies within the Great Barrier Reef Region and the GBRMPA is committed to partnering with these groups to help maintain their cultural rights and interests and, through collaboration, to achieve the most effective management of the Marine Park. In carrying out its functions, the agency maintains a strong relationship with a wide range of agencies, users, stakeholders, and community members with an interest in the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef. Organisational structure The GBRMPA's organisational structure is shown in Figure 2. Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities MPA Board Chairman / CEO GBRMPA Dr Russell Reichelt General Manager – Environment and Sustainability Branch Peter McGinnity General Manager – Marine Park Management Jon Day PSM acting on behalf of Andrew Skeat General Manager – Communication and Policy Coordination Margaret Johnson General Manager – Corporate Services Bruce Elliot Climate Change Environmental Assessment and Management Communications and Knowledge Management Finance and Office Services Spatial and Information Technologies Coastal Ecosystems and Water Quality Ecosystem, Conservation and Sustainable Use Indigenous Partnerships Field Management Policy Coordination Regional Engagement and Planning Reef Guardians Legal Services Tourism and Recreation Reef HQ People, Records and Information Services Science Coordination Figure 2: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority organisation structure (as of 30 June 2011) OVERVIEW 11 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Responsible Minister The 2010-11 reporting year began with the Hon. Peter Garrett as the Minister responsible for the GBRMPA's operations as Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. The Hon. Tony Burke, as Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, had responsibility from September 2010 onwards. No Ministerial directions were issued to the GBRMPA in 2010-11. Legislative framework The GBRMPA is established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (the Act), as an Australian Government statutory authority. The objects of the Act are set out in Section 2A, and the specific functions of the GBRMPA are defined in Sections 7 and 7A. Other Acts administered by the GBRMPA are: • • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge-Excise) Act 1993 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge-General) Act 1993. Regulations in force under the Act are: • • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Aquaculture) Regulations 2000. The GBRMPA also administers the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003. Amendments to legislation during 2010-11 No amendments were made to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 during 2009-10, or other Acts administered by the GBRMPA. Amendments were made to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983, and the Great Barrier Reef Region (Prohibition of Mining) Repeal Regulations 1999. FINANCES OVERVIEW Details of the GBRMPA's financial operations are provided in the Finances chapter. An overview of the GBRMPA's financial operations follows and a summary of financial and staffing resources is presented in Figure 3, Figure 4 and Appendices. Total revenue for 2010-11 was $46.5m. Appropriation for 2010-11 was $30.1m. This figure represents a $2.1m increase from the 2009-10 appropriation. This was due to additional resources provided in the 2010-11 Budget to ensure the Authority can deliver on its objectives and to address risks identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. 12 OVERVIEW G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Figure 3: Income by source 2010-11 Related Entity 10% Reef HQ Other* 6% 1% Queensland Government 18% Commonwealth Appropriation 49% Special Appropriation/EMC 16% *Other (1%) includes permit assessment fees and cost recovery. Further detail is provided in Note 4D of the Financial Statements (page 125). Income from other sources for 2010-11 of $16.3m was $1.8m more than in 2009-10. Additional funding was received to implement the Extreme Weather Incident Response and for the Marine Monitoring Program and Indigenous partnerships as part of the Australian Government's Reef Rescue initiative. The Australian and Queensland governments provided matching funding for the joint Field Management Program for the Marine Park. The program was implemented in partnership with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) and other agencies Figure 4: Expenses by category 2010-11 Other 4%* Field Management (DERM) 26% Employee 41% Supplier 29% * Other (4%) includes depreciation, grants and losses from asset sales. Further detail is provided in Notes 3C, 3D and 3F of the Financial Statements (page 124). OVERVIEW 13 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The operating expense of managing the Marine Park in 2010-11 was $48m. Employee expenses were higher than in 2009-10 with additional staffing for the Reef Guardians program. Expenses for suppliers were higher than 2009-10 by $1.84m. Resources were also allocated to capital projects including the Reef HQ Aquarium and development of the Reef Permits system. The GBRMPA had an operating deficit of $1.459m in 2010-11. This reflects the unfunded depreciation expense. STAFF OVERVIEW The Executive Management Group consists of the Chairman and four Senior Executive Service (SES Band 1) General Managers: • • • • Environment and Sustainability Marine Park Management Communication and Policy Coordination Corporate Services. The number of employees in the GBRMPA was 219 for 2010-11, which is an increase from 207 in 2009-10. (See Appendix B for an overview of staffing, employee numbers and composition at 30 June 2011). The staff figure for 2010-11 includes a number of fixed-term, non-ongoing positions linked to climate change and activities funded by the Australian Government's Caring for our Country — Reef Rescue activities. The GBRMPA also maintains several casual staff employed intermittently to work in the Reef HQ Aquarium which operates seven days a week. 14 OVERVIEW PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 PERFORMANCE In 2010-11, the GBRMPA successfully delivered a range of programs and initiatives to manage the Great Barrier Reef and protect it from potential threats. Its three main objectives were: • • • Addressing the key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Maintaining a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. The GBRMPA's performance report is based on the agency's Portfolio Budget Statement 2010-11, which details the deliverables and key performance indicators for the year. These provide a framework for GBRMPA to measure progress in meeting its three objectives. SECTION 1. ADDRESSING KEY RISKS AFFECTING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF Overview Climate Change Action Plan Improving water quality Protecting the ecosystem, species and coastal habitats Implementing Reef Rescue initiatives Partnering with the science community Communicating the risks p. 19 p. 20 p. 27 p. 30 p. 35 p. 38 p. 40 16 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 1: Objective 1, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 OBJECTIVE 1: Address key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Deliverable Climate Change Action Plan Implementation of the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007–2012 as part of the COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. Extent of implementation of the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007–2012. Implemented Extreme Weather Response Program. Extended Eye on the Reef community-based monitoring. Progressed tourism and commercial fishing climate change adaptation plans. Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Improving water quality Improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef through regulation, permits, policy, education and partnerships. Work with regional Natural Resource Management bodies and Queensland agencies in coordinating regional reporting of actions and water quality outcomes. Protecting the ecosystem, species and coastal habitats Ensuring the long-term protection, rehabilitation and resilience of the ecosystem, species and coastal habitats through the application of an ecosystem-based management approach. Strategies for maximising ecosystem resilience are identified and validated. Assessment of the effectiveness of management processes for coastal ecosystems completed. Positive biodiversity conservation outcomes for vulnerable species or species of conservation concern and coastal ecosystems. Prepared 19 biodiversity and coastal ecosystem vulnerability assessments. Partnerships to reduce dugong and turtle mortality, including sustainable traditional hunting. Initiated the development of a draft Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy and an assessment of the status of Great Barrier Reef coastal ecosystems. Integrated protocols for monitoring programs, under Eye on the Reef. Effective policy and field management to address the priority ecological threats to protect the marine ecosystem. Multi-agency compliance program in place, focused on highest risks. See Section 2 for full details about the Field Management Program. Effectiveness, understanding and reporting on water quality and ecosystem health. Supported the development of Reef Rescue Research, Development and Innovation Plan. Maintained and expanded Reef Guardian Councils Program. Worked with Natural Resource Management bodies and state and local governments to support implementation of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. PERFORMANCE 17 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 1: Continued OBJECTIVE 1: Address key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Deliverable Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Implementing Reef Rescue initiatives Implementation of the Reef Rescue component of Caring for Our Country. Extent of implementation of the Reef Rescue component of Caring for our Country. Indigenous Partnerships Program successfully implemented including TUMRA development and significant compliance improvements in high risk areas where unlawful hunting occurs. Annual Marine Monitoring Program and reporting completed. Partnering with the science community Influence the science community to ensure science programs address knowledge gaps as identified by the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 and are focused on solutions to the main threats. Communicating the risks Utilise Reef Guardian program to raise awareness and deliver information regarding the key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef. Increased public understanding of the key risks affecting the outlook of the Great Barrier Reef. Major public awareness program launched. Suite of communication materials released. Reef scientists and science programs are focused on addressing knowledge gaps as identified by the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 and solutions to the main threats. Chaired the working group that developed the Great Barrier Reef node of the National Environmental Research Program (NERP). 18 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 OVERVIEW In 2010-11, the GBRMPA dedicated substantial effort and resources towards addressing risks to the Great Barrier Reef’s health and building its resilience so it is better placed to withstand threats in the long term. The Australian Government is committed to protecting this extraordinary natural asset. The Great Barrier Reef provides enjoyment for millions of visitors each year and supports many local industries and communities. The impacts of climate change dominate predictions about the Great Barrier Reef’s future health. It was identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 as the single greatest threat to the Reef. The other main threats are declining water quality from catchment run-off, loss of coastal habitats from increasing coastal development, illegal fishing and poaching and remaining impacts of fishing. The GBRMPA draws on the best available science to understand these risks and to strengthen suitable management actions. This section outlines the major programs undertaken in 2010-11 to understand, address and raise awareness about the major risks to the Reef. Highlights 2010-11 • • • • • • • • • Upgraded the Reef Health Incident Response System. Developed a Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework. Implementation of the Extreme Weather Response Program, in response to the 2010-11 summer of flooding and cyclone Yasi. GBRMPA was part of the working group for developing the first Reef Plan Report Card that was supported with data collected through the GBRMPA's Marine Monitoring Program. Indigenous Partnerships Program successfully implemented and included ongoing TUMRA development and grants and sponsorship program. Worked with Traditional Owners to achieve significant conservation outcomes through increased field surveillance in high risk areas where unlawful hunting activities occurred. The development of the research program for the Great Barrier Reef node of the Tropical Ecosystems hub of the National Environmental Research Program (NERP). Undertook an assessment of the status of Great Barrier Reef coastal and catchment ecosystems in collaboration with scientific experts and managers. Supported coordinated response to address threats to dugong, turtles, sharks and other key species through membership on dugong, shark and species of conservation interest taskforces. Delivered a public awareness program to highlight the value of stewardship in reducing the risks to the Great Barrier Reef and feature Reef Guardian efforts. • PERFORMANCE 19 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN The Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012 completed its fourth year of implementation in 2010-11, with significant progress made in a number of key areas. These included the development of a Reef Health Incident Response System, the development of a Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework, and forging successful partnerships with the fishing and tourism industries to help 'future proof' the sectors from climate change impacts. Upgrade of incident response planning In November 2010, the GBRMPA held a pre-summer workshop with its partners including the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University to review the projections for the conditions on the Great Barrier Reef in the upcoming 2010 - 11 summer. Following the scientific advice provided at this workshop, the GBRMPA revised its existing incident response plans to develop the Reef Health Incident Response System. The updated framework integrated three existing strategies (Climate Change Incident Response Framework, Coral Bleaching Response Plan and Coral Disease Response Plan), with the addition of plans for other climate-related events such as cyclones and floods. The framework is based on the Australian Standard for incident response and encompasses the following overarching elements: Early Warning System, Incident Response, Management Action, and Communication. The Reef Health Incident Response System relates specifically to climate events such as coral bleaching and disease outbreaks, and cyclone and storms, but the framework can be adapted to be applied to other incidents in the Marine Park including crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. This System proved particularly useful when in early 2011 there was major flooding in the southern Great Barrier Reef and category 5 cyclone Yasi in the north. A case study about the GBRMPA's Extreme Weather Response Program is provided on page 25. Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Raine Island In 2010-11, the GBRMPA finalised a major milestone on its Climate Change Action Plan project at Raine Island. The island in the northern Great Barrier Reef was the subject of a case study on climate change adaptation planning for species, species groups and habitats. A Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework was developed from the project to support Raine Island as a nesting refuge for threatened seabirds and green turtles. The framework can be readily applied to other Great Barrier Reef habitats or species groups that are vulnerable to a changing climate. 20 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework includes: 1. Vulnerability assessment: a detailed assessment of the vulnerability of the island as a seabird and turtle nesting habitat to the potential impacts of climate change. This assessment determined that seabirds and turtles are sensitive to climate change (both when they are on and off the island). Resilience analysis: identifies and assesses the risk of management actions that could minimise the sensitivity or maximise the adaptive capacity of the species and habitat to a changing climate. The resilience analysis on Raine Island identified that minimising the mortality of nesting green turtles and supporting nesting success of turtles and seabirds are the best options to increase their resilience to climate change. Adaptation plan: a summary of suggested actions, feasibility of implementation, cost and timings was developed. A draft Raine Island Adaptation Plan has been developed and includes a range of proposed strategies to minimise the mortality of nesting female turtles and to improve the remote sensing capacity on the island to assess the effectiveness of these proposed actions. 2. 3. Keppel Bay region resilience initiative In 2010-11, the GBRMPA with its partners the University of Queensland and Australian Institute of Marine Science secured National Environmental Research Project (NERP) funding to expand work undertaken in the Keppel Bay region as a case study, to investigate Great Barrier Reef wide management actions that can support, and increase, the Great Barrier Reef's resilience. Since 2008, GBRMPA has been trialling management actions in the Keppel Bay region to assess their contribution to building the resilience of the coral reefs in the area. This includes surveys of fringing reefs to assess key indicators of reef resilience and the establishment and assessment of 'No Anchoring Areas' to minimise damage and support reef recovery. The fishing and tourism industries and the local community have been active participants in the trial. Collected evidence suggests this practice is a valuable management tool to support the resilience of coral reefs in that region. This year, the GBRMPA sought to broaden the Keppel Bay project, investigating its application at a Great Barrier Reef scale. Working with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Queensland, GBRMPA began to research the development of a resilience support framework for the entire Great Barrier Reef. The first phase of this project involved a literature review of resiliencefocused management activities from around the world and using the successful elements from those projects. This Keppel Bay project is to be used as a case study to investigate Reef-wide management actions that support, and increase, the Reef's resilience. PERFORMANCE 21 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Interpretative trail at Low Isles and Port Douglas A series of interpretive signs were developed for Low Isles and Port Douglas in North Queensland to raise awareness about issues impacting on the area and what is being done to address them. The signs include locally specific information about climate change, and its potential impacts. They also describe activities occurring on Low Isles as it moves towards becoming carbon neutral. Information on water quality impacts on the surrounding environment and what is happening to improve water quality as well as information about the history and environment of the Low Isles area is also included. Climate change leadership The GBRMPA was recognised by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) as an Adaptation Champions Finalist for the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012. The awards acknowledge individuals and organisations that are demonstrating leadership and innovation in adapting to, and preparing for, the impacts of climate change. The GBRMPA also continued to support the Science for Management Awards which recognise early career researchers who are investigating climate change related issues in the Great Barrier Reef. Filling knowledge gaps on climate change One of the key objectives of the Climate Change Action Plan is to support research to fill the knowledge gaps in the Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment which helps to inform many of the GBRMPA's climate change management activities. In 2010-11, the GBRMPA expanded the knowledge base on the potential impacts of climate change and their interactions with the effects of fishing pressure and water quality. Topics that were investigated included: • • • • • Ocean acidification Ecosystem resilience Coral, zooxanthellae and microbial genetics and their potential role in climate adaptation Impact of increasing sea temperature on corals, seagrass and other ecosystem components Seabirds and sea turtle vulnerability. Regulatory tools to address climate change impacts In 2010-11, a project began to examine whether the regulatory tools for management of the Great Barrier Reef will need to be modified to contribute to the management of climate change impacts. The project will guide the incorporation of climate change management measures into the core business of the agency and lead to environmental impact assessment and environmental impact management processes that target climate change in the interests of increased Reef protection. This ongoing project will report outcomes through the Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 2007–2012. 22 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Putting climate change knowledge into action The GBRMPA, in partnership with National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility brought together a range of marine stakeholders for a knowledge-sharing workshop — Bringing Adaptation to Life. The aim of the event was to identify ways to convert adaptation knowledge into outcomes in marine systems. Participants included representatives from the marine tourism, seafood and aquarium collecting industries, the research community and policy makers. The workshop discussion resulted in the production of a set of adaptation principles to guide action and decision making. Fishing industry adapting to climate change The Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) and the GBRMPA have formed a partnership to help ‘future proof’ the fishing industry from climate change while ensuring good environmental outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef. One of the initiatives in 2010-11 included the development of a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report for the East Coast Trawl Fishery, which is to be finalised in 2011-12. This was an ancillary project to the Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery (see Section 2, page 51). The assessment is identifying those areas of the fishery that are most susceptible to the effects of climate change so adaptation options can be identified. The GBRMPA has also worked closely with the aquarium and harvest fisheries, their representative body - ProVision, and Fisheries Queensland, to complete a climate change vulnerability assessment and commence the development of an adaptation plan for those fisheries. The industry's Coral Stress Response Plan for the nearshore reefs around the Keppel Island group was tested for the first time this year. The plan was put into action in early 2011 as a key response to the floods and their impact on the hard corals and biodiversity of the area. It was the first time the Coral Stress Response Plan had been activated. The on-ground response was informed by the industry-developed actions defined under the ProVision Reef Stewardship Action Plan launched in late 2009. Negotiations were held between the aquarium and harvest fishers, Fisheries Queensland, ProVision, the Queensland Seafood Industry Association and local tourism operators and it was agreed to implement voluntary restrictions on collection areas. This will help to reduce stress on local corals and fish and help the Reef to recover from the extreme weather impacts. PERFORMANCE 23 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Tourism industry adapting to climate change A range of initiatives were implemented as part of the marine tourism industry and government initiative, the Great Barrier Reef Tourism Climate Change Action Strategy 2009-2012. These included: • The Tourism Climate Change Action Group met twice in 2010-11 to progress the Strategy and industry workshops were held in Cairns and Whitsundays in July 2010 to provide operators with the opportunity to work through risk assessments, climate change actions and certifications. A review of the Marine Tourism Contingency Plan included targeted tourism industry workshops in Airlie Beach and Cairns in March 2011. This was to ensure climate change was addressed as part of operators' contingency planning. The outcomes of this review will be incorporated into the marine tourism contingency planning process. The initiation of the development of a framework to guide the Queensland tourism industry's response to environmental incidents. This was the tourism industry component of the GBRMPA's Climate Change Incident Response Framework and will achieve a coordinated industry-wide approach to sharing information and responding to significant environmental events. The framework is due for release in 2011-12. The drafting of three climate change case studies on sustainable island resorts, Reeffriendly carbon offsetting, and adapting to climate change. The case studies highlight success stories and best practices in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change which helps marine tourism operators take practical and effective action on climate change. These three case studies will be available on the GBRMPA's external website. An upgrade of the online Tourism Operators Emissions Calculator – a tool developed to assist operators to audit and reduce their carbon footprint. The upgraded calculator is expected to be available on GBRMPA's external website in mid-September 2011. • • • • 24 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ CASE STUDY ] Extreme Weather Response Program The summer of 2010-11 was characterised by extreme weather events in the Great Barrier Reef Region. The season was the second wettest on record for Australia and south-east Queensland experienced rainfall up to 400 per cent higher than normal. Flood waters running from the Fitzroy, Burnett and Mary rivers into the Great Barrier Reef carried freshwater, sediments, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants. This created a flood plume stretching 65 kilometres off the Capricorn Coast. In addition to the extensive flooding, cyclone Yasi hit the North Queensland coast between Townsville and Cairns, the first category five system to do so since 1918. About a 300 kilometre stretch of the 2400 kilometre Reef was exposed to destructive winds, representing about 13 per cent of the total Marine Park. There was extensive damage in some parts while other parts escaped unscathed. In all, the extreme weather events of summer 2010-11 resulted in substantial impacts on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and longer term impacts are expected. The GBRMPA received $1.08m from the Australian Government, under the Caring for Our Country initiative, to implement the Extreme Weather Response Program. The agency worked in partnership with the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), research agencies, the tourism and fishing industries, and Reef stakeholders to implement a range of projects. Assessment of damage A rapid assessment of the impacts of cyclone Yasi on reefs was completed in the weeks immediately after the cyclone. The survey teams completed 882 rapid Reef Health and Impact Surveys at 76 reefs, spanning 500 kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park between Port Douglas and Airlie Beach. An additional 68 surveys were conducted further south at eight sites in the Keppel Bay area to assess the flood impact from the extended Fitzroy River flood plume. Further water quality sampling (especially in the Fitzroy region) was also added to the existing Marine Monitoring Program. This included monitoring the health of seagrass, which can be affected by flood plumes and go into decline. This reduces the food sources available for dugong and marine turtles. Eye on the Reef expansion The expansion of the GBRMPA's Eye on the Reef Program and training for participants was an important initiative under the Extreme Weather Response Program. The program was central to the assessment of the Great Barrier Reef after cyclone Yasi and the flooding. Further details are available under Protecting the Ecosystem – Reef Health Monitoring starting on page 33. PERFORMANCE 25 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ Case study: Extreme Weather Response Program contd. ] Biodiversity Dugong and green turtles are two species of concern in the wake of floods and cyclones, particularly given their reliance on seagrass. The GBRMPA stepped up its efforts to understand the health status or causes of death of stranded animals in order to assess the ongoing impacts of extreme weather. The program involved increasing the number of veterinarians and management agency staff trained and equipped to perform necropsies and take samples from stranded dugong. A dugong and green turtle foraging study commenced to monitor animals in areas directly affected by cyclone Yasi. Attention to behaviour and strandings of green turtle and dugong helps identify where movements may increase the animals' interactions with human activities such as boating and netting. Islands Extreme weather events significantly damaged recreational infrastructure, changed the shape and size of cays and islands, altered beach structure and damaged vegetation. Assessment and repairs were carried out, and marine debris was retrieved. Aerial surveys and photography were used to identify sites where there may be impacts for coastal birds and sites requiring recovery actions such as weed and pest control, fire management, and rehabilitation. Industry A socio-economic survey of tourism operators and commercial fishers within the Marine Park was conducted in conjunction with the CSIRO. The findings will help us to understand the impacts of the recent floods and cyclones on these Reef-dependent industries and implications for industry and management preparedness for future extreme weather events. Crown-of- thorns starfish Funding of $30,000 was provided to the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators to extend the Crown-of-thorns Starfish (COTS) Control Program based in the Cairns and Port Douglas areas to the Whitsundays. Removing more of these coral predators will help stressed coral in areas of damage to recover. Education A suite of education materials were produced to raise community awareness among Reef users about areas of concern and to promote what people could do to help the Reef recover. Posters and fact sheets promoting the Sightings Network, and dugong and turtle-friendly boating practices were distributed through the GBRMPA's distribution networks. The Sightings Network encourages people to report unusual, iconic and protected animals and extraordinary events where the information can be used to better manage the Marine Park. 26 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ Case study: Extreme Weather Response Program contd. ] The GBRMPA also supplied funding support to DERM's Island Hitchhikers program, which was used to produce information materials about pest species and establish pest decontamination sites at critical island sites. What have we learnt from the Extreme Weather Response Program? The GBRMPA's Extreme Weather Response Program has been a significant undertaking. Understanding the implications of extreme weather events for the Great Barrier Reef is essential for the protection and wise use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Training and supporting regular users in Reef health monitoring techniques can greatly assist in the understanding and impact assessment of severe weather events. This is important in light of projections of increasing frequency of severe weather events under a changing climate. IMPROVING WATER QUALITY Water quality decline from polluted catchment run-off is recognised as one of the four main risks to the Great Barrier Reef. The GBRMPA is directly responsible for, and is involved in, a number of initiatives to address the decline of water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan), a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland governments, recognises a coordinated response from all levels of government is required to halt and reverse the decline in water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef by 2013. Reef Plan implementation is funded through to 2013 with over $375m in investments, $200m of which is from the Australian Government's Reef Rescue Program (2008-2013). The GBRMPA plays a pivotal role in monitoring and reporting on the progress of the Australian and Queensland governments' initiatives towards achieving the Reef Plan targets. During the year, the GBRMPA advised the Reef Plan Secretariat (in the Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet) on a number of key Reef Plan strategies including: the Research, Development and Innovation Plan 2010-2011; the pilot Education and Extension Program; the Reef Plan Communication Strategy; and the delivery of Reefwise Regulations. This included participating in a Peer Review Group to identify key research needs to support the regulations. Further, the GBRMPA participated in the Reef Plan Partnership Committee, providing advice on matters such as the generation of targets based on the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Guidelines. The GBRMPA also advised the Reef Plan Independent Science Panel on a number of issues, including the assessment of impacts of water quality on Great Barrier Reef ecosystems, for example the trend in seagrass decline. PERFORMANCE 27 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Independent Audit of Reef Plan As part of the governance arrangements for Reef Plan, the GBRMPA provided input into the second Independent Audit of Reef Plan. This Audit was undertaken in 2011 by Lloyd Consulting, a Brisbanebased firm. It was expected to be released in August 2011. Paddock to Reef Monitoring - First Report Card In 2010-11, the GBRMPA assisted with the implementation of the Reef Plan's Paddock to Reef Modelling, Monitoring and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef). One of the four major components of this program was the production of a Marine Technical Report, for which GBRMPA was responsible. This technical report was a synthesis of GBRMPA's Marine Monitoring Program. The information was integrated into the first Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Report Card. The GBRMPA was part of the working group for developing this baseline report along with the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet and scientific consultants. Marine Monitoring Program The GBRMPA manages the Marine Monitoring Program, in partnership with five monitoring providers: the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the University of Queensland, James Cook University, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and CSIRO. All major milestones for the GBRMPA's Marine Monitoring Program were met in 2010-11. The Marine Monitoring Program found: • • • • • A trend of declining seagrass cover throughout much of the Great Barrier Reef in recent years. Confirmation of the presence of pesticides in inshore Great Barrier Reef waters at concentrations known to have a biological effect. New knowledge on flood plume dynamics. Confirmation of clear gradients in water quality away from major river mouths. Delivery of marine metrics to evaluate the status of winshore water quality, seagrass meadows and coral reefs, which is a significant step towards evaluating the overall status of inshore water quality, seagrass meadows and coral reefs across the Great Barrier Reef. Monitoring the 2011 flood plumes Monitoring of flood plumes and seagrass status was an essential element of the GBRMPA's response to the extreme weather events of 2010-11 (see Extreme Weather Response Program case study page 25). Improved mapping of flood plume movement increased the capacity to predict areas of the Great Barrier Reef with a high likelihood of exposure to land-based contaminants. The results of the flooding impacts will be reported in the GBRMPA's Marine Monitoring Program being prepared for release in late 2011. 28 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Reef Rescue Research Development and Innovation Plan The GBRMPA assisted the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) in developing the Reef Rescue Research Development and Innovation Plan. This $10m program is to address the most significant information gaps associated with the development, uptake and monitoring of improved land management practices, especially those funded through the $146m Reef Rescue Grants program. As a member of the Independent Technical Advisory Panel, the GBRMPA assessed 59 expressions of interest for undertaking Reef Rescue initiative research priorities. The 18 successful Reef Rescue research projects were commissioned by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities in May 2011. Salinity hazard maps Salinity hazard maps were generated using a model developed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO with past funding from the Marine Monitoring Program and Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility. This work provides the GBRMPA with a better understanding of the impact of salinity on coral reef systems, including potential trigger levels, against which effects of these major flooding events can be assessed in the future. Risk and exposure report The GBRMPA commissioned a report on the risk and exposure of Great Barrier Reef inshore waters to poor water quality, as defined in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Water Quality Guidelines 2009. The results of this study are now linked to our annual Marine Monitoring Program reporting on water quality status in any particular year for each region against GBRMPA's Water Quality Guideline trigger values. This information, once incorporated into Reef Plan's Paddock to Reef Program, allows for the adaptive management of practice changes on the ground. Individual regions or catchments can be prioritised to reduce their specific pollutant loads. This year that information was integrated into the first Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Report Card. Water Quality Guidelines As part of the review of the Australian National Water Quality Management Strategy and associated Australian Water Quality Guidelines, the GBRMPA provided advice to the pesticide management working groups. The GBRMPA's pesticide monitoring program is unique in Australia in terms of its size and comprehensive nature and the information being captured has implications for this review. This relates to whether the water quality guidelines are able to address the potential impacts of multiple pesticides entering the Marine Park and World Heritage Area and, in particular, their chronic sublethal effects on the photosynthetic health of plants and animals. This advice will assist in updating the way in which the Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Water Quality Guidelines manage this issue. PERFORMANCE 29 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Aquaculture developments The GBRMPA continued to work with the Queensland Government on its management and policy for aquaculture developments in and adjacent to the Marine Park. This included input into the review of the Queensland Coastal Plan, finalised in March 2011. Wetlands initiatives Healthy wetlands act as water filtering systems and are vital to the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The GBRMPA participates in the Queensland Wetlands Guidance Group, co-chaired by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Department of Environment and Resource Management and advises on funding of projects under the Caring for Country program. Over 20 projects worth around $2m under the joint Australian and Queensland governments' Queensland Wetlands Program were implemented and included the development of models on how a variety of wetland systems function. Further projects were the development of wetland buffer guidelines to include in State Planning Policy, guidelines for managing coastal wetlands in grazing system, and a report on a methodology for undertaking a condition and risk assessment of wetlands. Other work, initiated under these programs, included training and on-farm demonstrations of wetlands and waterways management for 70 wetland managers at five major regional centres. PROTECTING THE ECOSYSTEM, SPECIES AND COASTAL HABITATS The term ecosystem-based management means an integrated approach to managing the Great Barrier Reef's ecosystem and matters affecting that ecosystem. The aim is to maintain ecological processes, biodiversity and functioning biological communities. In addressing the key risks to the Great Barrier Reef identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009, and in turn ensuring the long-term protection, rehabilitation and resilience of the ecosystem, species and coastal habitats, the application of an ecosystem-based management approach is necessary. Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy In 2010-11, the GBRMPA initiated the development of a draft Biodiversity Strategy, to identify the further commitment and actions necessary to protect and enhance the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef's ecosystem and its biodiversity. In particular, it will provide a framework for biodiversity conservation and management within the Great Barrier Reef Region. The Biodiversity Strategy will identify a range of stewardship initiatives to link positive socioeconomic outcomes with biodiversity conservation and the ecologically sustainable use of these marine resources. A key focus of the Strategy will be to reduce the risks and improve knowledge of inshore biodiversity. It will identify those habitats, species and groups of species that are the highest priority 30 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 for management action. Vulnerability assessments were conducted to identify actions to reduce the risks from identified threats and pressures, using a standardised and transparent process. The vulnerability assessments identify key sources of vulnerability for each of the highest priority species, species groups and habitats. In addition, they identify: • • • appropriate and practical management actions to mitigate risks and enhance ecosystem resilience gaps in management effectiveness including deficiencies in legislation and policy where additional research is required for making informed decisions. Continued collaboration with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) in developing the Biodiversity Strategy will ensure the complementary approach required to achieve biodiversity conservation. In addition to partnerships throughout all levels of government, the Biodiversity Strategy will identify the key relationships required to achieve biodiversity conservation including Traditional Owners, researchers, industry, other stakeholders and the broader community. Coastal ecosystems The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 identified increasing coastal development and its impact on Great Barrier Reef coastal ecosystems as a major risk. During 2010-11, the GBRMPA invested significant resources in the development of a draft Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystem Strategy to gain a better understanding and way forward to address critical issues related to coastal ecosystems. The GBRMPA undertook an assessment of the status of Great Barrier Reef coast and catchment ecosystems under the guidance of the Catchment and Coast Reef Advisory Committee and supported by workshops with key scientific and management experts. The assessment report which is currently being documented, provides information on the inter dependence of marine and reefal biodiversity and on the current status of key coastal and catchment ecosystems. This assessment will provide an important knowledge base for management decisions, including increased protection and the minimisation and mitigation of the adverse impacts of coastal development. During the year, the GBRMPA developed the framework for the use of environmental offsets with approvals for a major development in Gladstone as well as continuing to provide advice on the additional funding required for the ongoing management of any offset areas. The negotiated outcome of direct environmental offsets in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area delivered through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approval processes will aim to maintain the health of existing critical coastal habitats whilst also providing for the rehabilitation of degraded coastal and marine habitats. PERFORMANCE 31 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The GBRMPA advised the Queensland Government on the development of its Coastal Plan to ensure it reflected the values of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and recognised the impacts of coastal development adjacent to the Marine Park. Species of Conservation Interest Initiatives Species of Conservation Interest (SOCI) Taskforce The Species of Conservation Interest (SOCI) Taskforce was formed to provide expert advice on ways to reduce interactions between commercial nets and species of conservation interest, such as marine turtles, dugong, dolphins, sharks and ray species. This taskforce, chaired by Fisheries Queensland and with representation from the GBRMPA, the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) and the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), is investigating a range of measures to further reduce the risk of entanglement of species of conservation interest in set mesh nets and will inform the review of the Wildlife Trade Operation for the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery in early 2012. Inter-governmental dugong taskforce In December 2010, the Queensland State and Federal Environment Ministers established an intergovernmental taskforce to review and make recommendations on ways to modify and improve the current management framework for dugong. The GBRMPA played a key role in informing the dugong taskforce on important management arrangements and programs aimed at reducing threats to dugong in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The taskforce is due to report in 2011-12. Dugong necropsy training As part of the response to the extreme weather events of 2010-11, the GBRMPA funded an advanced dugong necropsy training course. Sixty participants, including veterinarians and GBRMPA and DERM staff from Bundaberg to Cooktown took part in the training. An increased capacity to respond to dugong strandings and people trained and equipped to collect samples for histology will result in the more efficient collection of information necessary to understand the impacts on these vulnerable species. Green turtle population model The GBRMPA funded the development of a population model for the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle genetic stock that was finalised in 2010-11. This stock is one of largest in the world and concerns exist about unsustainable harvesting and climate change impacts. The population model will assist management to do scenario testing and make estimates of the impacts of traditional hunting, climate change and extreme weather events on this stock. Risk assessment on deaths of Queensland grouper In 2010-11 the GBRMPA continued its lead role in the investigation into Queensland grouper deaths along the Great Barrier Reef. Since 2007, 80 Queensland grouper deaths have been reported with some of these deaths the results of a bacterium called Streptococcus agalactiae. Further investigation into this bacteria and its role in the deaths is being conducted by Biosecurity Queensland. 32 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The risk assessment undertaken by the GBRMPA with Biosecurity Queensland indicated that there are some high risks, such as the potential for this bacterium to infect commercially and recreationally important species like mullet and javelin fish, and also to cause mortality in aquaculture facilities. Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements assessments In 2010-11, as part of the development of the Girringun and Port Curtis Coral Coast Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA), assessments were undertaken into the requested level of take of protected species like dugong and green turtles to determine if the requests were ecologically sustainable. This assessment is based on best available science. Full details about the development of TUMRAs and the efforts of Traditional Owners to care for sea country are available under Implementing Reef Rescue Initiatives in this section and Sea Country Management in Section 2. Reef Health Monitoring Surveys to monitor the health of the Great Barrier Reef were carried out at three different levels of complexity during the year, involving a wide range of partners and stakeholders. Critical to the success of this program is the engagement with industry, community and partner agencies. 1. Long Term Trends: Australian Institute of Marine Science Long Term Monitoring Program involving in-depth data and analysis of fish and coral populations, including investigations of cyclone, disease and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks. Conducted at 47 sites. Reef Health Status: Reef Health and Impact Surveys (RHIS) involved GBRMPA staff, the research community, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, tourism operators and fishers. They involved the collection of data on environmental conditions, coral and algal cover and growth forms, and the nature and extent of coral bleaching, disease, predation, damage and debris. Early Warning of Impacts: Eye on the Reef and Sightings Network initiatives are communitybased monitoring programs that have high participation from tourism operators. More than 40 tourism operators participated in the Eye on the Reef program in 2010-11 providing the GBRMPA with up-to-date information on 42 reefs across the Marine Park. The Sightings Network now stores over 5000 observations of iconic and protected species, biological phenomena and rare moments experienced by visitors to the Reef. Observations include over 300 different species and 400 locations across the Great Barrier Reef. In 2010-11, a growing number of conservation volunteers and community members joined the program. 2. 3. More information can be found at www.gbrmpa.gov.au and www.aims.gov.au. The GBRMPA relies on the data collected for the following purposes: • • • • • Incident response efforts; including the Early Warning System Permit assessments Evaluation and communication of the current health of the Reef Assessment of the long-term resilience, vulnerability and outlook for the Reef Management actions; including the establishment of Special Management Areas. PERFORMANCE 33 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Integrated Eye on the Reef Program During 2010-11, the GBRMPA continued the development of a more integrated approach to monitoring the Great Barrier Reef, under the Integrated Eye on the Reef Program. Standardised protocols, including one survey form, were developed for the Reef Health and Impact Surveys, and the Eye on the Reef and Sightings Network initiatives. The integrated program is expected to be launched in 2012. This project has seen the development of integrated data storage, a mapping and reporting system that streamlines and coordinates the data collected through these monitoring programs. It is focused on three key areas: 1. 2. 3. The alignment of monitoring categories across programs The development of the data and reporting system Capacity building amongst Reef users through the joint training of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, the tourism industry and dedicated community members on reef health monitoring. The online forms and interactive spatial reporting provides an instant feedback loop for participants. In addition, a newly designed entry-level reef monitoring form will create a larger network of trained individuals providing near real-time information on Reef health and status. This will enable the GBRMPA to engage with the broader community of Reef users, including fishers, Traditional Owners and recreational users. Training of Eye on the Reef participants was expanded as part of the Extreme Weather Response Program. Forty-five people were trained in various aspects of the program. They came from 10 Reef sites across the Great Barrier Reef, including Townsville, Magnetic Island, the Keppels, Lady Elliott Island, Agnes Waters and Heron Island. Participants included charter fishermen who operate from Gladstone in the southern section of the Reef. 34 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The training expanded the number of people trained in conducting Reef Health and Impact Surveys and the locations where monitoring can occur. This will create for GBRMPA a baseline dataset for previously unobserved sites. [ CASE STUDY ] Tourism operators assist with surveys of cyclone damage A powerful demonstration of the strength of the Eye on the Reef Program occurred in early 2011, as part of a rapid assessment of the Reef under GBRMPA's Extreme Weather Response Program (also see page 25). In the immediate aftermath of cyclone Yasi, tourism operators rallied to help with the assessment of the damage, transporting Eye on the Reef survey participants to the impact zone to undertake Reef Health and Impact Surveys. Numerous tourism crew joined staff from GBRMPA and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct the surveys. This shared effort enabled the 882 surveys to be completed at 76 reefs, as reported in the Extreme Weather Response Program. As a result of these surveys, the GBRMPA was able to confirm that the main tourism sites in Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays remain healthy and thriving with marine life, while the worst hit area showed patchy damage, from very severe to minimal. The response from tourism operators in helping with the damage assessment reflects the industry's strong commitment to stewardship of their individual sites, and to working in partnership with management agencies for a sustainable tourism industry. IMPLEMENTING REEF RESCUE INITIATIVES The Caring for our Country Reef Rescue initiative is a $200m program managed by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to support the protection of the health of the Great Barrier Reef and to help build its resilience by creating incentives for improving land use practice. A major initiative of the program is the Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program, which assists the GBRMPA to engage with Indigenous communities in the management and protection of the Reef's resources and cultural diversity. In 2010-11, the Program made significant achievements towards its goals. For further information about GBRMPA's work with Traditional Owners on Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements, please also refer to Section 2: Sea Country Management. Other Reef Rescue initiatives for which GBRMPA is funded include the Marine Monitoring Program and the Research Development and Innovation Plan, which have been addressed as part of the Improving water quality section starting on page 27. PERFORMANCE 35 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 REEF RESCUE LAND AND SEA COUNTRY INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS Enhanced compliance A range of initiatives were implemented in 2010-11 to enhance compliance in the Marine Park, including: • • • The recruitment of Indigenous Community Compliance Liaison Officers and regionally based project managers with Indigenous compliance responsibilities. Targeted compliance efforts in identified high risk areas and multi-agency enforcement activities with Australian and Queensland governments. There has been significant progress made in addressing illegal netting of dugong adjacent to the Yarrabah community near Cairns. Since the Indigenous Partnership Program began, increased patrolling and community liaison has resulted in the seizure of 44 culturally inappropriate nets used to target dugong. The figure represents a major step forward in the reducing these practices. Compliance activities and efforts will continue to target areas of high risk. Compliance training and workshops Three training packages were developed to address Indigenous engagement in compliance: 1. 2. 3. Better Witness Engaging Traditional Owners in compliance Working with Traditional Owners to achieve compliance. During 2010-11, approximately 100 Traditional Owners participated in these training workshops. The training was enthusiastically attended and undertaken by participants. Traditional Owners clearly identified their need and desire to work in partnership with compliance agencies and governments in general. The relationship between Traditional Owners and the GBRMPA was enhanced through this training. Engaging with communities Through the Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Improvement (MERI) framework the GBRMPA collected evidence to demonstrate an increase in the capacity of Traditional Owner groups around caring for country (lore), including an increased recognition and use of traditional ecological knowledge to underpin sustainable use and biodiversity conservation. The program created a comprehensive system of communication, developed by each Traditional Owner group, to suit local needs. This helped to revitalise regional engagement driven and informed by Traditional Owners and enabled Indigenous community members to contribute to actions and decisions that affect their lives. 36 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Sea Country Partnerships Grants A number of Traditional Owner groups residing along the coastline of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park received a boost to their sea country management efforts by applying for a Sea Country Partnerships Grant in 2010-11. The grants administered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority through the Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships provided nearly $500,000. Over 35 grant applications were submitted, demonstrating a strong interest among Traditional Owners in caring for their sea country. There were 12 successful applicants who each received grants valued up to $50,000 to carry out environmental initiatives that create a sustainable future for the Great Barrier Reef. The successful applications covered projects along the Great Barrier Reef from Cape York to just north of Townsville. Projects included the rehabilitation of wetlands, the protection of turtle nesting sites, the implementation of junior rangers programs as well as the delivery of compliance and environmental monitoring training. The Sea Country Partnerships Grants Program was designed to encourage Traditional Owner groups to undertake projects on land and sea country that result in better management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Sponsorship In 2010-11 the Sea Country Partnerships Sponsorship Program provided an opportunity for Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef catchment area to access funds to support their participation in training, events or exchanges that may assist them to better manage their sea country. To date, the Sponsorship Program has provided support to over 40 Traditional Owners to share and increase their knowledge and skills base. Strengthening communication and knowledge sharing During 2010-11, a Sea Country Guardians Activity Kit, TUMRA Development Workbook and Sea Country Toolkit (a guide to sea country management options) were developed by GBRMPA to support Traditional Owners engaged in sea country management. Another resource, a Traditional Owner bibliography called 'Story Place' was regularly updated. It contains over 800 references dating back to 1907. This information is an important resource collection for Traditional Owners and is available through libraries. Traditional Owners also participated in Local Marine Advisory Committees as a mechanism to engage with different industry and community sectors. This facilitated communication on Traditional Owner issues within the Great Barrier Reef allows different perspectives to be shared. The Indigenous Partnerships Program supported the development of a regional network, sea forums and the continuation of the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee. These communication structures are important ways that Traditional Owners are empowered to participate in policy making and program implementation. PERFORMANCE 37 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ CASE STUDY ] Cape York Expedition A 21-day vessel expedition along eastern Cape York provided the platform for Traditional Owner groups from Cape York to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and to hold discussions about sea country management. The Traditional Owner groups discussed the development and implementation of TUMRAs and future options for managing sea country. The Reef Rescue project not only supported the Umpila, Lama Lama, Wuthathi, Kuuku Ya'u and Pul Pul Traditional Owners to meet ‘on country’ to talk about TUMRAs, it also created opportunities for school children and Elders to access sea country and share cultural knowledge. Students from Lockhart River State School visited Restoration Island with Vincent Temple who talked to the students about the dangers to marine animals from rubbish as well as turtle and dugong biology. At the mouth of the Pascoe River the children were shown totem sites and story places. An i-Tracker was loaded with relevant GBRMPA zoning maps and trialled by Lama Lama Rangers on their sea country area at Pelican Island. Lama Lama Traditional Owners undertook a TUMRA planning session at Port Stewart. The information gathered is to be used in a proposal to develop a TUMRA with the GBRMPA. Traditional Owners from the Cape Direction area were taken back to country and the opportunity was used to discuss their views on unsustainable dugong take. PARTNERING WITH THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY Using the best available science by partnering with the science community and important research programs helps the GBRMPA to understand the implications of major threats to the Great Barrier Reef. It is important for assessing the effectiveness of management initiatives and considering alternative strategies. The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 provides a basis for identifying information gaps and subsequent scientific information needs in addressing key risks to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef Scientific Information Needs 2009-2014 guides research priorities and investment for the agency. In 2010-11, the GBRMPA successfully partnered with the scientific community to achieve a range of outcomes. These included: • • The development of the research program for the Tropical Ecosystems hub of the National Environmental Research Program (NERP). A coordinated response to the extreme weather events experienced early in 2011, achieved within a very short time frame. This response successfully integrated research on socio-economic and bio-physical impacts and positioned the agency well for the development of a long-term socio-economic monitoring program. 38 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • The completion of projects that explain the transport of fish larvae between zones of the Marine Park and historical trends in inshore coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. The research will be published soon. These projects were supported by the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) transition funding, which finished this year. Improved knowledge on live coral cover trends on mid- and outer-shelf reefs. A paper by Sweatman et al. analysed and presented the first 18 years of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Long Term Reef Monitoring program. It reports on cycles of decline and recovery in different sub-regions of the Marine Park. Overall, it found that hard coral cover has declined from 28 per cent to 22 per cent. The successful implementation of the Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program to enhance understanding about water quality in the Reef (see the Improving water quality section). • • Major research programs The major research programs that contributed to the management of the Great Barrier Marine Park during 2010-11 were: Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) The four-year term of the MTSRF concluded in June 2010, however Australian Government funds were made available to transition from the MTSRF to its successor, the National Environmental Research Program (NERP). The MTSRF program itself as well as projects funded through the transition program have generated very valuable research and synthesis products that address some of the major gaps in our knowledge as well as addressing the threats facing the Great Barrier Reef. The MTSRF investment will continue to deliver important peer-reviewed journal articles over the coming years. National Environmental Research Program (NERP) Tropical Ecosystems Hub The NERP Tropical Ecosystems Hub has a major focus on the Great Barrier Reef, which helps in the understanding and management of the cumulative impacts of global, regional and local stressors on the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef. Research is to be conducted on the effects of existing management strategies, as well as developing catchment and near-shore management and adaptation strategies to improve resilience, and ecosystem-based management of Great Barrier Reef fisheries. The most important monitoring programs funded through the MTSRF will continue under the NERP. Successful research partnerships In addition to the above programs, the GBRMPA continued or established successful partnerships with the following research programs: • • • The Queensland Government Reef Protection Package Research and Development Program Australian Research Council: Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and eReefs PERFORMANCE 39 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Research and Development Corporations. COMMUNICATING THE RISKS AND SOLUTIONS In the 2010 Budget, the Australian Government committed an extra $3.8m over two years to improve the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef by expanding the GBRMPA's highly successful Reef Guardian stewardship program. Early in 2011, the Program launched two new pilot programs for fishers and farmers. An important part of this initiative is communicating to the community about the risks to the Reef's outlook, so they understand and support management actions to build the Reef's resilience. This includes encouraging stewardship by Reef Guardians in helping to build the Reef's resilience. (For further information about the Reef Guardian stewardship program, please also see Section 2 of this Performance Chapter). Major public awareness program Reef Guardian Farmers, Fishers, Schools and Councils featured in a major public awareness program run by the GBRMPA in 2010-11, to raise awareness about the threats to the Great Barrier Reef and what is being done to address them. The campaign is being implemented in two phases over 2010-11 and 2011-12. The first phase of the campaign has been completed and rolled out to communities in the Great Barrier Reef catchment, from Bundaberg to Cape York. It included advertisements on regional television. An overarching advertisement show cased the Reef, highlighting its special beauty and fascinating biodiversity, while reminding viewers of what future generations stand to lose if we don't take action to protect the Reef. It provided an overview of the key risks that were identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009, including climate change, declining water quality, coastal development, illegal fishing and poaching, and some remaining effects of fishing. There were also four supporting advertisements featuring real farmers, fishers, schools and councils who live and work in the Reef catchment and have been accepted as Reef Guardians because of their efforts to care for the environment. They shared with viewers their work in helping to keep the Reef healthy and strong, for now and into the future. The television commercials aired for eight weeks throughout the Great Barrier Reef catchment (close to 1000 showings of the five commercials). The campaign's theme was 'Working together today for a healthier Reef tomorrow', which highlighted the vital importance of GBRMPA and Reef-reliant communities working in partnership to achieve the critical mass necessary to help the Reef overcome major challenges. It recognised that the Reef is at a crossroads. The action we take, or don't take, today to care for the Reef will determine its outlook for years to come. 40 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Community events Reef Guardian team members have also attended various community events to educate the public about Reef Guardians. These included: • • • • • • AgroTrend Field Days Bundaberg Ag-Grow Field Days Charter Towers EcoFest Gladstone EcoFiesta Townsville Eco Expo Mackay Mackay Show. Newspaper insert A newspaper insert has been developed that will help to raise awareness within the community of our Reef Guardians programs and the threats to the Great Barrier Reef. The insert includes case studies of Reef Guardians and some of their activities. This insert will be printed and distributed in 2011-12 via regional newspapers from Hervey Bay to Cooktown, reaching over 200,000 households. PERFORMANCE 41 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 SECTION 2. DELIVERING ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE USE Overview Marine Park management Sea Country management Effective Field Management Program Constructive relationships p. 44 p. 45 p. 55 p. 56 p. 62 Table 2: Objective 2, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 Objective 2: Ensure management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Deliverable Marine Park management Ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park through delivery of Zoning Plans, Plans of Management, Site Plans, permits, impact assessment, best practice guidelines. Effectiveness of Zoning Plans, Plans of Management, Site Plans and other policy instruments and solutions. Contributed expert advice into 19 assessments under the EPBC Act. Fifty-one high standard tourism operators in the Marine Park. More than 60 per cent of tourists use high standard operators. Environmental impact advice provided to major projects. Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Sea Country management Effective sea country management, through collaboration with Traditional Owners. Collaborative management partnerships between Traditional Owners and management agencies for ecologically sustainable traditional use of marine resources in place. Twenty-eight Traditional Owner groups involved in TUMRA-related activities. Two TUMRAs re-accredited. One new TUMRA application received. 42 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 2: Continued Objective 2: Ensure management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Deliverable Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Effective Field Management Program Effective delivery of the Field Management Program. Extent of delivery of the outputs in the 2010–11 Field Management Program. More effective use of strategic and operational intelligence. Across eight locations 128 participants and 18 Traditional Owner groups took part in compliance training. Response to floods and cyclone included a number of activities. Responded to stranded marine life including record numbers of dugong. Constructive relationships to support ecologically sustainable use Constructive relationships with industry, community, local government and other reef users to support protection and ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Level of industry, community, local government and other reef users participation in reef monitoring, stewardship and management initiatives to support protection and ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef. Four Reef Advisory Committees and 11 Local Marine Advisory Committees maintained. Reef Guardian Fishers and Farmers pilot programs launched. Eight Reef Guardian Councils maintained and three new Reef Guardian Councils. Over 60,000 students involved in the Reef Guardian Schools program. Regional Management Partnership with the fishing industry maintained. Maintained partnerships with the agricultural industry, Natural Resource Monitoring groups and the research community addressing water quality impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. PERFORMANCE 43 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 OVERVIEW Ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef is central to the GBRMPA's role and is vital as the Great Barrier Reef faces increasing pressures from continued growth and development both within and outside the Marine Park. The GBRMPA supports the many legitimate uses of the Great Barrier Reef, recognising their importance to the social and economic health of the region. A dedicated compliance regime manages these uses to ensure the Great Barrier Reef is protected for future generations to enjoy. The Zoning Plan, Plans of Management and Site Plans determine where and what users can do in the Marine Park. Commercial and research activities are managed through the use of a permits system. The environmental impact assessment process underpins decision making about acceptable uses and development that are either in the Marine Park or could impact on it. Other policies and management strategies are developed in consultation with the fishing and tourism industries, the two major commercial users that rely on a healthy Great Barrier Reef. Working in partnership across all levels of government, community and industry was a priority for GBRMPA during the year and is essential to meet the challenges of caring for such a vast, complicated and unique ecosystem as the Great Barrier Reef. Vital partnerships with the Queensland Government and Traditional Owners were strengthened to deliver an effective compliance program. The highly successful Reef Guardian Program was also expanded to include farmers and fishers taking extra steps to care for the Great Barrier Reef. Highlights 2010-11 • • Indigenous Partnerships Program supported over 30 Traditional Owner groups to engage in sea country management. Across eight locations, 128 participants and 18 Traditional Owner groups participated in the GBRMPA's Eyes and Ears – Better Witness training to boost skills in reporting illegal activity. Compliance patrols supported by Traditional Owners to address illegal netting and other issues of sustainability of dugong and turtle – over 44 nets were removed from the Marine Park. Regional Management Program in the Burdekin Region with the fishing industry improved net design and practices to reduce interaction with dugong. The GBRMPA received the 2011 Institutional Award from the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA). This is a global award. Environmental assessments for a number of major projects, including a number of very large port expansions. Expert advice provided for 19 EPBC Act assessments undertaken and Environmental Offsets framework established. The High Standard Tourism Program reached its 51st certified high standard operation. Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery (Trawl ERA) was developed. • • • • • • • 44 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • The highly successful Reef Guardian Schools and Councils program expanded to include fishers and farmers. MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT Marine Park management in the Great Barrier Reef is achieved through planning and environmental impact assessment, compliance and enforcement, and by engaging industries and communities in stewardship activities that support management. The Queensland Government are important partners in joint management arrangements. Review of environmental assessment and management policies Management systems and processes were reviewed in 2010-11 to ensure a focus on ecologically sustainable use, efficient and effective administrative processes, a high standard of governance and consistency with the legislative amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983. Policies reviewed were: • • • Environmental Impact Management Policy Structures Policy Dredging and Spoil Disposal Policy. Audit of permitted facilities and structures An audit of all permitted facilities and structures was completed in 2010-11. This audit will greatly assist the implementation of Reef Permits and ongoing management of facilities and structures within the Marine Parks. Strategic assessment of barge operations A strategic assessment of barge operations within the Marine Parks was undertaken, in consultation with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Key issues identified included potential impacts from fuel transfer, suspension of sediment and transfer of pest species. As a result of the assessment, standard permit conditions were reviewed and streamlined. This included developing outcome-focused permit conditions. Review of deed of agreement A review of the deed of agreement associated with structure and facility permits is currently being undertaken to ensure deeds continue to remain an effective management tool. Deeds of agreement are between the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (for joint permissions) and the permittee. These deeds outline specific obligations and responsibilities for permitted activity (i.e. operation of a facility). Specific obligations may include insurance requirements, indemnification, provisions for clean up and removal of a structure, and the requirement to submit a bond to the GBRMPA. PERFORMANCE 45 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 International Association of Impact Assessment – Institutional Award GBRMPA's commitment to robust environmental impact assessment processes was recognised with the 2011 Institutional Award from the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA). The award acknowledges GBRMPA's transparent, rigorous and strategic environmental impact assessment process. Using robust impact assessments provides for the long-term protection and ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef. It is only the third time an Australian organisation has won the award and the GBRMPA is the first marine organisation ever to receive it. Major projects Major projects are complex, large development applications or activities that may have significant environmental or social impacts on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and its stakeholders. In 201011 there was a large increase in the number, scale and complexity of major projects associated with Queensland ports as they expand their infrastructure to increase coal exports. Examples of large, complex major projects associated with ports, tourism, local council and government are provided below. Great Keppel Island Tourism and Marina Development Environmental Impact Statement The proposed Great Keppel Island Tourism and Marina Development was referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to determine whether the application was likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance. It was decided that the proposed action would require assessment by Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the EPBC Act. The proposed action would also require a permit under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, as components of the development are in the Marine Park. The Australian Government approved the EIS Guidelines for the Great Keppel Island Tourism and Marina Development. These guidelines were jointly developed by the GBRMPA and the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. The guidelines set the scope for environmental, social, cultural, heritage and economic studies required in the EIS to allow for an assessment and decision on the appropriateness of the construction and operation of the proposed development. Hay Point Port expansion GBRMPA worked with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to develop and implement an Environmental Management Plan for their dredging operations under their Marine Park permit. Over two years, BMA would be disposing of up to 155,000 m3 of material into the Marine Park as part of expanding the Hay Point Coal terminal. Specific potential impacts addressed within the Environmental Management Plan include oil spills, translocation of marine pests and impacts on marine fauna. Agnes Water desalination plant During 2010-11, Gladstone Regional Council continued work under their permit to install, operate 46 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 and maintain seawater intake and brine outfall pipelines associated with the Agnes Water/1770 Integrated Water Project. The permit was granted in 2009. An Environmental Management Plan outlined mitigation strategies for potential impacts such as turtle nesting and hatching activities. It is anticipated that the permitted activities will be completed late 2011. Department of Defence – Talisman Sabre 2011 GBRMPA worked closely with the Department of Defence on the management of Defence activities within the Marine Park, including reviewing environmental management arrangements for the Talisman Sabre 2011 training exercise at Shoalwater Bay. This major Defence training exercise involves the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and the United States Armed Forces. Activities will be conducted in July 2011. Environmental impact assessment adjacent to the Marine Park There is ongoing and increasing development and expansion across the communities and industries connected to the Great Barrier Reef. As part of environmental assessments under the EPBC Act, GBRMPA provides specialist advice on the impacts of development in and adjacent to the Marine Park to ensure the best possible environmental outcome. Protecting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is aided by understanding where the highest risks to Great Barrier Reef ecosystems are and utilising management tools to improve protection. During 2010-11, GBRMPA was involved in: • • nineteen EPBC Act assessments. The majority of these were major projects such as the Gladstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) proposals. leading the development of a discussion paper on offsets for the Great Barrier Reef to provide guidance on applying offsets the Gladstone LNG and port developments. This framework will be used to deliver offsets under the permits for the three approved LNG projects on Curtis Island and the Gladstone Port Authority's Western Harbour dredging program. providing advice to the Queensland Government and local government on seven development proposals associated with changes in land use. • Ports and shipping With increasing ports and shipping activity adjacent to the Marine Park, the GBRMPA aimed to ensure measures were in place to enhance maritime safety and protect the marine environment. During 2010-11, GBRMPA developed cooperative strategies for the short-, medium- and long-term protection of the Great Barrier Reef, to deliver ecologically sustainable use by this industry given the significant challenges posed by the predicted growth. These cooperative strategies accounted for expected increases in shipping traffic, existing management measures, and emerging risks from transporting hazardous and noxious substances and the introduction of exotic species. During 2010-11, the GBRMPA continued its partnerships with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and Maritime Safety Queensland to administer a range of measures to regulate all ships and vessel activity in the Great Barrier Reef. The three agencies make up the Great Barrier Reef Shipping Management Group. This group's role is to oversee the adoption and implementation of PERFORMANCE 47 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 measures for enhancing maritime safety and marine environment protection in the Great Barrier Reef. Given the expected increase in shipping traffic and the emerging risks, the group provides a coordinated strategic function to addressing these issues. Refer to the Ecosystem protection information under the Field Management Program on page 60 for information on shipping incident responses. Permissions issued A total of 750 permissions were granted during the year, including 115 permissions transferred. Figure 5 shows a breakdown of the type of permissions granted. In addition, a total of four permissions were refused. The joint GBRMPA permit process with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service provides major efficiencies for both agencies, as well as permit applicants, and it continued to operate efficiently throughout the year. Figure 5: Type and number of permissions granted during 2010-11 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 31 5 9 6 43 118 106 155 142 20 0 Reef Permits The agency's integrated permit management system continues to evolve and grow with changing business needs. Used within the organisation since 2010, this management tool called Reef Permits has allowed GBRMPA to review current business systems to ensure best possible client service and transparent and accountable decision making. The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) Online component of Reef Permits is scheduled for release in 2012. 48 PERFORMANCE In s ta lla rin Ha gs rv &/ e st or Fis op he er Re rie a tio m s ov n of al of fa cil th iti re es at en in g sp ec ie O s th er ac tiv iti es tio n tp ro Ch gr ar am te rv s es se l/a irc ra ft rc h ng ea pi Ca m at Ed uc io n To ur is M oo Re s G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Environmental Management Charge (EMC) The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) is associated with most commercial activities that operate under a permit in the Marine Park. For most tourism operations, visitors to the Marine Park participating in a tourist activity pay the charge to the permittee, who then remits the charge to the GBRMPA. GBRMPA uses EMC funds for education and research, compliance patrols, site planning, public moorings, reef protection markers, information signs and maps. Visitation numbers collected as part of the EMC reporting process are also very important to Marine Park management. This information, when combined with information regarding the health of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, assists the agency to design management arrangements that support the continued sustainable use of the area, and its ongoing resilience. In 2010-11, GBRMPA gave advance notice to tourism operators that in 2012 there would be an increase by 50 cents for full day trips and 25 cents for trips less than three hours. Based on information provided by tourism operators via Environmental Management Charge (EMC) returns, Figure 6 shows the number of tourist visits in the Marine Park since 2006-07. The annual number of visitors using tour operators to visit the Marine Park has declined in recent years, reflecting the global downturn in tourism experienced since 2008-09. Figure 6: Tourist visits* in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park since 2006-07 1,500,000 Full day visits Part day visits Exempt from EMC 1,250,000 1,000,000 750,000 500,000 250,000 0 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (Source: GBRMPA EMC records) *These figures do not include stand alone coral viewing activities and scenic flights. PERFORMANCE 49 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Recreation Management Strategy Recreation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a major use, woven into the social fabric of adjacent coastal communities and playing an important role in their health and wellbeing. The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 found the impacts of recreation are mainly localised in inshore areas around major population centres. The review of management effectiveness for recreation in the Outlook Report, found there was no overall strategy for managing recreation, a lack of coordination between managing agencies and a lack of targeted management objectives to properly assess effectiveness. The Strategy was developed to address these findings, consolidates management arrangements and emphasises maintaining and enhancing management tools and enhancing education and public awareness. Throughout 2010-11 the GBRMPA sought valuable input from Reef Advisory Committees, Local Marine Advisory Committees and the Australian and Queensland governments. On 6 June 2011, the Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was approved by the Marine Park Authority Board. Ecologically sustainable tourism use of the Marine Park The tourism industry is a key partner in the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef. They contribute directly to ecologically sustainable tourism by what they do out on the water and through their business practices more generally. In 2010-11, the High Standard Tourism Program reached its 51st certified high standard operation. Operations are independently certified as high standing by demonstrating environmentally sustainable practices through Ecotourism Australia's ECO Certification Program. More than 60 per cent of tourists to the Great Barrier Reef are carried by high standard tourism operations, exceeding the 45 per cent target set for 2010-11. The High Standard Tourism Program aims for best practice standards in protecting and presenting the Great Barrier Reef by the marine tourism industry, and best practice partnerships by the tourism industry with managing agencies and the community. The GBRMPA worked with Ecotourism Australia to ensure the ECO Certification Program had incorporated revised best practices for climate change action and introduced improvements in auditing of certified operations by late 2010. From January 2011, all high standard operators must now meet these new practices. GBRMPA provides a range of benefits to encourage participation, including 13 longer term Marine Parks permits to high standard operators. Ecologically sustainable fishing in the Marine Park The GBRMPA worked with a range of other government agencies, industry, fisheries managers and scientists during 2010-11 to ensure all fishing activities in the Marine Park are consistent with long-term protection and conservation and helping address concerns from the wider community about fishing impacts on the ecosystem and marine environment. This has included working on measures to ensure the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery and the Reef Line Fishery are more ecologically sustainable. 50 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery The GBRMPA worked with Fisheries Queensland, Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA), industry, managers, scientists and others to develop the Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery (Trawl ERA). The completed Ecological Risk Assessment is expected to be available on GBMRPA's external website mid 2012. A project summary is now available on www.gbrmpa.gov.au. The best ecological information on the trawl fishery has been compiled and the remaining risks assessed — ensuring a more sustainable and viable trawl fishery, particularly in the face of future climate change impacts. Approximately 1000 species and assemblages that interact with the trawl fishery (including harvested species, by-catch and species of conservation concern) were assessed. The vast majority of those species and assemblages were assessed as not being at risk, or being at low risk. The Trawl ERA identified two species of sea snake, 11 species of shark and ray and one habitat assemblage as higher risk — requiring further management considerations and/or better information to reduce this risk. These results indicate that most ecological risks from trawling in the Great Barrier Reef are now relatively low and the management arrangements for the fishery in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that have been implemented over the past 10 years or so have made a significant difference. Those management practices include: • • • • Marine Park zoning and fisheries closures that have reduced the interaction of the trawl fishery with sensitive habitats and provided additional refuge areas in all bio-regions Government investment, combined with industry-based effort-unit reduction mechanism, to remove unsustainable fishing effort and reduce fleet size Adoption of turtle excluder devices and other by-catch reduction devices Implementation of a satellite-based vessel monitoring system. The Ecological Risk Assessment will note that, notwithstanding some initial marked reductions in the productivity of the fishery as fishers adapted to these new management arrangements, productivity in recent years has increased to levels approaching the historic levels, and this is being achieved with less than 25 per cent of the historic levels of fishing effort. The results of the Ecological Risk Assessment will guide the research and management priorities over the forthcoming years to ensure the remaining concerns are effectively addressed. One key outcome of the engagement of the trawl fishermen in this assessment is that fishermen are now well aware of the remaining concerns and have already commenced trialling modifications to gear and by-catch reduction devices in an attempt to reduce the interactions with the remaining species of concern. PERFORMANCE 51 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Developing social objectives for fisheries management The GBRMPA, via Climate Change Action Plan funding, was involved in a project feeding into the Queensland Government's review of management arrangements for the trawl fishery. The project was seeking to clarify the social, environmental and economic objectives for the fishery. This clarity is informing future management direction as it relates to the needs of industry and will help measure performance against the objectives for the fishery. The project has also identified which of these fishery management objectives support the ability to track climate change adaptation by the industry. The project contributes to an ecosystem-based management approach for fishing activities by users of the Marine Park. Adapting practices to address dugong deaths The GBRMPA is working with Fisheries Queensland, Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and commercial fishers to address a number of the remaining impacts of the inshore net fishery. Two key activities were the development of a new net designed to more readily release large animals (see 'big critter friendly' gillnet case study) and a regional management initiative in the Burdekin region. Although the work with the Burdekin Regional Management Group Steering Committee has a broader long-term aim of improving the overall management of fishing in this region, much of the work this year focused on gathering information on the turtles, sawfish and sharks. The move to reduce the risks to dugong and other protected species in this region follows at least seven dugong deaths (three confirmed, four reported but unconfirmed) in Bowling Green Bay since July 2010. Incidental capture in large mesh fishing nets has been implicated in each case. This mortality level raises sustainability concerns. The mortality of dugong from all human-related causes for the whole urban coast of the Great Barrier Reef (from Cooktown south) should be reduced to as close to zero as possible. This work identified best practice gear design and spatial deployment for the area, as well as drawing on fishers vast local knowledge to improve our understanding of the resources in the area. A number of changes to management arrangements for the area are currently being developed as a result of this process. It is proposed that netting rules will need to be changed for a specific area of the bay, and that for other areas the rules should remain unchanged. Commercial fishers have advised that the proposed modifications to netting activity will still allow for business to continue operations and to supply a range of seafood products to local markets. The GBRMPA intends to continue the collaboration to address issues that arise in other hotspots along the coast. 52 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ CASE STUDY ] Development of a 'big critter friendly' gill net In 2010 the GBRMPA, along with Fisheries Queensland and the World Wildlife Fund, provided seed funding for Moreton Bay commercial fisher John Page to continue trials of a new net design which has 'breakaway' panels in it. The breakaway panels allow fish to be caught but will break under pressure to allow larger, non-target species like dugong, marine turtles and large rays and sharks to swim away without getting entangled. Initial trials indicated the net did work to reduce the by-catch of large animals. GBRMPA is now supporting a Fisheries Research and Development Council research application to progress and refine this net for broader application within the inshore net fishery. This net has potential to reduce the risk of incidental capture of protected species without compromising the catch rates for the commercial fisher. It is this type of innovative approach that will progressively reduce the risk of netting to protected species and deliver ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park. Impacts of major cyclones on the Coral Reef Finfish Fishery The GBRMPA initiated a project to improve understanding of the implications of major cyclones on the Coral Reef Finfish Fishery and associated key commercial fish species, following the flooding and cyclones experienced in late 2010 and early 2011. It will build upon strong fishing industry partnerships the GBRMPA has built up in recent years with Fisheries Queensland, the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA), commercial fishers and researchers. Under the project, the effect of recent severe weather on the Coral Reef Finfish Fishery operating in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park will be investigated. Surveys of associated habitats and fish communities will be undertaken in selected reef areas and the effects on catchability of coral trout will be determined. A small targeted fish tagging program will be initiated to assess subsequent movements, survivability and growth of coral trout after future anticipated extreme weather events. The GBRMPA is seeking input from other relevant experts prior to finalising a report on the results. When complete, this project will provide information that will assist all parties to better understand the impact of extreme weather events on coral reef habitats and associated fish species targeted by the Coral Reef Finfish Fishery and to inform management on how to develop options for enhancing the resilience of this fishery. Fish spawning aggregation In November 2010 the GBRMPA worked with contractors from James Cook University to complete the annual monitoring of fish spawning aggregation sites in the Great Barrier Reef. This contributes to a 20-year dataset for this project. PERFORMANCE 53 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The monitoring aims to complete an underwater assessment of the primary coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) spawning aggregation site, and habitat type, general abundance of other target and prey species on Scott Reef (closed to fishing) and Elford Reef (open to fishing) off Cairns. This long-term project provides baseline data to contribute to other data describing the trends of coral trout numbers between reefs open and closed to fishing, and monitor the size and trends of these common coral trout spawning aggregations. The numbers of coral trout counted during the 2010 surveys are within the range of surveys conducted over the previous 10 years. World Heritage and National Heritage management The GBRMPA continued its representation as part of the Australian delegation to the World Heritage Committee that is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. This fouryear appointment is due to expire after the 2011 committee meeting. During 2010 a Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (RSoOUV) was developed for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This concise statement has yet to be formally adopted by the World Heritage Committee (scheduled in mid-2012), but the statement will become the 'benchmark' against which the future state of conservation of the World Heritage property will be assessed. During 2011 the latest six-yearly Periodic Report for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area was prepared by the GBRMPA in consultation with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Input was also received from various Reef Advisory Committees. The final report was also assessed by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) to ensure a consistent approach across all Australian World Heritage properties. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Heritage Strategy outlines actions for the identification, assessment and monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park's heritage values, the development of a heritage register and preparation of heritage management plans. During 2010-11, under the Heritage Strategy the GBRMPA progressed the Lady Elliot Island Lightstation Heritage Management Plan after expert advice from SEWPaC. Also during 2010-11 the first draft of the Heritage Management Plan for Dent Island Lightstation was completed. This lessee-prepared plan outlines the heritage values of the Dent Island Lightstation heritage area and also plans for the appropriate presentation, upkeep and maintenance of these values. During 2010-11, the GBRMPA undertook building audits on Commonwealth islands. These audits were necessary to identify any measures required to be taken to ensure the buildings' heritage values are maintained. The audits also identified any safety issues and necessary mitigation measures. The islands audited included Low Isle, and Dent and Lady Elliot islands. 54 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 SEA COUNTRY MANAGEMENT Effective and meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners are essential to protecting the cultural and heritage values, conserve biodiversity, and provide for ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef. A number of strategies have been implemented to ensure that Traditional Owners have a direct role in management of the Marine Park and guiding the activities of the GBRMPA. A Traditional Owner, Ms Melissa George, is a member of the Marine Park Authority Board, and the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee (IRAC) and Traditional Owners are also represented on other advisory committees. The Indigenous Partnerships Program supports Great Barrier Reef Traditional Owners to develop a suite of sea country management arrangements including Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs) and Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs). Traditional Owners also have membership on the Marine Park Authority Board and the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee (IRAC) and participate in Science and Management Workshops for Traditional Owners, compliance training, monitoring, and Traditional ecological knowledge projects. For further details about initiatives under the Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program also see Section 1 of this Performance Chapter. Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements A Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) provides an agreed basis for Traditional Owners and Marine Park managers to work together to protect cultural values and to manage culturally important species in accordance with traditional lore and to ensure sustainability. During 2010-11, a range of activities were undertaken to expand TUMRAs and associated compliance activities. GBRMPA received one new TUMRA application from the Gurang/Gooreng Gooreng/Taribeland Bunda/Bailai Traditional Owner groups (Port Curtis Coral Coast), seeking joint accreditation under both state and Commonwealth legislation. The GBRMPA forged new working partnerships with over 10 Traditional Owner groups investigating the development of a TUMRA. [ CASE STUDY ] Woppaburra TUMRA accredited for three years On 20 September 2010, the Dharumbal (Woppaburra Section) TUMRA was accredited by the GBRMPA and the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. These groups worked together on the TUMRA that outlines the shared responsibility for managing the traditional use of marine resources and associated sea country issues for the Keppel islands region. Woppaburra's sea country extends approximately three nautical miles from the Keppel Group of islands. Under the TUMRA, the Woppaburra Traditional Owners restate their commitment to actively managing their sea country, and to limit their take of turtle and dugong in recognition of the threats faced by these species. PERFORMANCE 55 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [ Case study: Woppaburra TUMRA accredited for three years contd. ] "We are fulfilling our customary obligations by taking an active role in managing the marine resources in our sea country for the future. Under our Dharumbal/Woppaburra TUMRA, we have agreed to limit green turtle harvest in specific areas under a traditional authority system, and to not harvest dugongs. We recognise that marine turtles and dugong are under threat from many pressures and we are committed to the conservation and protection of them and all marine species. We are proud of our sea country and we welcome you. We work in partnership with the Australian and Queensland governments; and we ask you to help keep our shared sea country healthy by following zoning rules and doing all you can to minimise the impacts of your visit." — Woppaburra Traditional Owners. EFFECTIVE FIELD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area are jointly managed by the Australian and Queensland governments to ensure this natural wonder is protected for the future. The GBRMPA works with a range of Commonwealth and Queensland agencies, and in particular the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, to ensure field management is effectively undertaken throughout the Great Barrier Reef. Compliance management Zoning is a key management tool to protect plants, animals and habitats; compliance with zoning rules is therefore essential for the long-term health of the entire Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. GBRMPA and its field management partners held monthly meetings to plan operational Reef-wide surveillance activities. Vessel surveillance patrols took place in targeted areas within the Marine Park, and land-based patrols were undertaken with the majority occurring in the Far Northern Region, concentrating on areas where illegal poaching activities were identified as a high risk. A focus was also on making more effective use of strategic and operational intelligence. New intelligence reporting databases were implemented and new compliance intelligence products developed, to assist field resources being allocated to issues and locations of highest risk. Figure 7 shows the number of information reports received by the GBRMPA since 2004-05. The total of 552 reports received during 2010-11, represents a 90 per cent increase compared with the 200910 financial year (290 reports). Figure 8 provides a summary of the number of offences reported to the GBRMPA Field Management Program since 2003-04. During 2010-11, a total of 643 offences were reported across Commonwealth, State (Queensland) and other jurisdictions. The total number of offences reported under Commonwealth jurisdiction was 467. A further breakdown on the types of these offences is provided in Table 4. Table 5 shows compliance actions taken. The choice of action depends on the individual circumstances of each case. The majority received advisory letters/warnings. However, more serious matters resulted in infringement notices or prosecution. 56 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Figure 7: Number of information reports received by the GBRMPA Field Management Program since 2004-05 600 500 400 300 200 206 205 351 363 290 552 200 100 0 -0 6 -0 7 -0 8 -0 9 -1 0 09 20 732 633 643 -0 5 05 06 07 08 04 20 20 20 20 Figure 8: Number of offences reported to the GBRMPA Field Management Program since 2003-04. 20 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 06 07 272 499 594 746 878 08 09 10 20 20 09 - 10 -1 1 20 10 11 4 5 20 05 - 20 06 - 20 07 - 20 0 Table 3: Number of offences reported to the GBRMPA Field Management Program during 2010-11 (by management area) Number of offences reported - (by management area) Far Northern Jurisdiction Commonwealth State (Qld) Other TOTAL 11 14 0 25 Cairns/ Cooktown 169 25 0 194 Townsville/ Whitsunday Jul 10-Jul 11 142 90 8 240 128 34 0 162 17 5 0 22 467 168 8 643 Mackay/ Capricorn Other Total 20 0 20 08 - 30 40 PERFORMANCE 57 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 4: Summary of Commonwealth offences reported by management area Far North Queensland Mackay/Capricorn Cairns/Cooktown Activity July 10 - June 11 Townsville/ Whitsunday Other 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Breach of Permit Collecting Unattached Dory - Collecting Commercial Fishing Fishing Line Fishing Unattached Dory - Line Fishing Netting Trawling Maritime Incident Plan of Management Unpermitted Activity Other Collecting Indigenous Fishing Unpermitted Activity Wildlife Line Fishing Netting Unlawful Take Traditional Take Unknown Take Type Line Fishing Fishing Historical Shipwrecks Maritime Incident Recreational Plan of Management Groundings Sinkings Cairns Whitsunday Camping Domestic Animals in Protected Area Unpermitted Activity Fire Restricted Access Areas Unlawful Take Wildlife Other Interaction with Cetacean Netting Spearfishing Groundings Pollution/Discharge Cairns Littering Restricted Access Areas 2 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 1 4 15 9 4 8 11 41 0 4 0 0 0 12 0 6 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 57 1 17 4 0 1 0 1 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 5 12 1 12 1 1 0 1 16 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 15 5 22 1 3 1 1 18 7 4 15 9 4 8 12 142 1 22 4 3 1 12 1 8 5 2 2 1 1 1 58 PERFORMANCE Total 3 2 2 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 4: Continued Far North Queensland Mackay/Capricorn Cairns/Cooktown Activity July 10 - June 11 Townsville/ Whitsunday Other 0 0 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Research Breach of Permit Fishing Maritime Incident Breach of Permit Environmental Charge Fishing Maritime Incident Line Fishing Groundings Pollution/Discharge Unpermitted Other Cairns Whitsunday Commercial Activity (Tourist) Restricted Access Areas Interaction with Cetacean Line Fishing DSA Breach Pollution/Discharge 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Line Fishing Groundings Pollution/Discharge Other Unknown Take Type TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 2 4 11 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 169 0 0 0 0 5 3 1 3 2 7 1 0 8 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 142 1 1 2 2 5 1 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 128 Shipping 23 6 5 6 7 20 1 9 8 6 1 6 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 467 Tourism Industry Moorings Offence Plan of Management Unpermitted Activity Wildlife Other Breach of Permit Fishing Other Maritime Incident Unpermitted Activity Wildlife Total 1 2 2 2 PERFORMANCE 59 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 5: Summary of compliance actions taken during 2010-11 Advisory letter and warning Advisory Letters (Commonwealth) Advisory Letters (State) Warning Notices (State) Warning Letters (CDPP) Total Infringement Notices Infringement Notices (Commonwealth) Infringement Notices (State) Total Prosecutions Prosecutions (Commonwealth) Prosecutions (State) Total TOTAL 2010-11 192 10 47 2 251 TOTAL 2010-11 22 20 42 TOTAL 2010-11 44 3 47 Ecosystem protection Sustainable tourism and recreation were supported by maintenance of protective and educational visitor facilities. Coral reef ecosystems were protected from anchor damage by the operation and maintenance of public moorings and reef protection markers. Island infrastructure and signage safeguarded island species and habitats. Ecosystem protection also involved the ability and capacity to respond to reported incidents including vessel groundings, oil spills, stranded wildlife and marine debris. The GBRMPA provided a Reef-wide training program to develop and maintain skills of field management staff. In 2010-11 there were 214 reported shipping incidents (Table 6). The GBRMPA worked in collaboration with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Maritime Safety Queensland and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to achieve faster and more effective incident responses. As seen in recent years (such as in 2008-09 and 2009-10), storm events create mass groundings. On 2 February 2011 a total of 140 vessels were grounded or sunk as cyclone Yasi hit the north Queensland coast between Mission Beach and Cardwell. These vessels consisted of private and commercial yachts and power boats (no large ships) between Cairns and Townsville. 60 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 6: Shipping incidents reported in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park during 2010-11 Incident Type Unconfirmed spill (origin and type) Confirmed spill – unknown source Confirmed spill – vessel Land sourced spill Abandoned Collision Grounding Marine Park compliance breach Sunken Unauthorised entry Vessel breakdown Vessel spill Other Total Count 2010-11 1 2 3 5 2 1 38 † 1 144 † 1 2 6 8 214 † A total of 140 groundings and sunken vessels were a result of cyclone Yasi (February 2011) The Marine Wildlife Stranding Program is the main source of knowledge about human-related mortality of protected species such as dugong, marine turtles, whales and dolphins. A series of advanced dugong necropsy training workshops were held along the Great Barrier Reef coast and attended by key Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service field staff and local veterinarians who are involved in the Marine Wildlife Stranding Program. The training workshops aimed to improve the amount of knowledge obtained from responding to a stranding incident, particularly in relation to cause of death. Under the Seabird Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment Project, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service reviewed the Coastal Bird Monitoring and Information Strategy and modelled the impacts of climate change on seabirds. Ecosystem monitoring A series of training workshops covering Reef Health Impact Surveys (RHIS) were attended by GBRMPA staff, Queensland Parks and Wildlife staff and external stakeholders. This will aid them in future collection of data on environmental conditions, coral and algal cover and growth forms, and the nature and extent of a range of impacts including bleaching, disease, predation, damage and debris. During 2010-11 a total of 1460 RHIS were undertaken within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (Table 7). The majority of these surveys were undertaken in order to ascertain the spatial extent and severity of impacts associated with cyclone Yasi. PERFORMANCE 61 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 7: Reef Health Impact Surveys undertaken in 2010-11 Organisation Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Maynard Marine Australian Institute of Marine Science Reef Magic Cruises Quicksilver Passions of Paradise Great Adventures Cairns Dive Centre Total RHIS surveys undertaken 2010-11 762 594 27 24 18 17 11 4 3 1460 CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS The community are important partners in the protection and ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef, as the uptake of good environmental behaviour on a wide scale can directly improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef. GBRMPA undertakes a range of community education activities and also seeks feedback and involvement from the community through more formal channels. Local Marine Advisory Committees provide a community forum for interest groups, government and the community to discuss issues around marine resources. This year the GBRMPA's highly successful Reef Guardian Schools and Councils Program expanded to include industry sectors and build a network of people undertaking environmentally beneficial activities. Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs) The GBRMPA receives advice on management issues about the Marine Park at a local level by voluntary community-based Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs). The committees enable local communities to have effective input into the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. During 2010-11 there were 11 LMACs in operation in regional centres adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef between Cooktown and Bundaberg: • • • • • • • • Cape York Local Marine Advisory Committee Douglas Local Marine Advisory Committee Cairns Local Marine Advisory Committee Cassowary Coast Local Marine Advisory Committee Hinchinbrook Local Marine Advisory Committee Townsville Local Marine Advisory Committee Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee Mackay Local Marine Advisory Committee 62 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • • Capricorn Coast Local Marine Advisory Committee Gladstone Local Marine Advisory Committee Burnett Local Marine Advisory Committee. On 18-19 September 2010, the Chairs of each committee met with senior managers in Townsville to discuss key issues relating to the management of the Marine Park such as coastal development and issues of concern for regional communities. The LMACs were involved in a number of projects including: • • • • • Beach clean-ups Sponsoring local environmental activities Producing promotional material to raise awareness about marine debris Regionally specific boating and fishing guides Education kits to minimise barotrauma-related mortality in fish released back into the water. Reef Guardians The GBRMPA's highly successful Reef Guardian Program was expanded in 2010-11 following additional funding from the Australian Government to identify opportunities for farming, fishing and tourism industries. This stewardship program involves GBRMPA building relationships and working closely with those who use and rely on the Reef for recreation and business, with the aim of guiding everyday actions and decisions in a way that will help to ensure long-term environmental benefits for the Reef. Reef Guardian Schools Over 60,000 students from 270 schools across Queensland are now part of the Reef Guardian Schools program. They participated in 15 Future Leaders Eco Challenges during 2010-11, educational events focusing on biodiversity and protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems. Educational material was also developed to support teachers including Reef Guardian units for the national curriculum and the ReefBeat Poster Series. Fifteen networking meetings between teachers, other Reef Guardian program participants and partner organisations were held in 2010-11, with 366 people participating. A Steering Committee has been established to advise on the growth and refinement of the program. Reef Guardian Councils Thirteen councils covering the coastline from Bundaberg to Cooktown are part of this program, with Gladstone, Rockhampton and Bundaberg Regional Councils signing up in 2010-11. A Reef Guardian Council Working Group was established with operational representatives from all participating councils to provide advice on operational elements of the program including the PERFORMANCE 63 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 council action plans. The program has been refined to increase its robustness in a range of areas including monitoring, reporting and changes to minimum standards. Support was provided to councils at a range of regional events and initiatives. A report by consultants on the Sea Country Guardians project was finalised, leading to future expansion of the Reef Guardian Council program to Aboriginal Shire Councils and Inland Councils. Reef Guardian Farmers A Steering Committee made up of industry representatives, stakeholders and other relevant state government agencies from across the farming spectrum has been established, along with a working group for cane and a working group for the banana industry to help refine the program and guide the practical and technical application of the Reef Guardian farmer assessment process. Reef Guardian Farmers was officially launched in March 2011 with a pilot program involving eight cane growers from across North Queensland. Reef Guardian Fishers The Reef Guardian Fishers Steering Committee was established and met twice in 2010-11. Most commercial fishing sectors in the Marine Park are represented on this Committee, along with the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA), OceanWatch, Fisheries Queensland (DEEDI) and the GBRMPA. The first Reef Guardian Fishers pilot program, involving the Reef Line Fishery, was launched in March 2011 with the Marine Aquarium and Coral Collection Fisheries pilot program launched in April 2011. The Reef Line Working Group involving all pilot participants and representatives from Fisheries Queensland, QSIA and GBRMPA was established and met for the first time in 2010-11 to provide advice regarding the framework for the pilot program as well as the associated desirable assessment standards. Tourism industry partnerships The tourism industry is a key partner protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef and presenting its World Heritage values. Tourism operators help enhance visitor experiences of the Reef and play an important role in protecting the amazing biodiversity that supports their industry. In 2010-11, the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators and the Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and their members actively supported GBRMPA initiatives such as climate change workshops, industry meetings on incident responses and on building the case for the Great Barrier Reef to be recognised as a National Landscape. Tourism operators continued to take proactive action to tackle climate change and 49 operators attended GBRMPA climate change workshops and meetings and assisted in developing climate change case studies series. Over 150 tourism staff were involved in the Eye on the Reef and provided to the GBRMPA over 800 forms recording the health of the reefs they regularly visit. This included participating in and contributing to reef health assessments post cyclone Yasi. In addition, over 200 sightings were reported through the Sightings Network, which is a GBRMPA initiative that encourages people to report unusual, iconic and protected animals and extraordinary events where the information can be used to better manage the Marine Park. 64 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 SECTION 3. HIGH PERFORMING, EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT ORGANISATION Overview Effective knowledge management Good governance Reef HQ Aquarium Communication and education p. 66 p. 67 p. 69 p. 71 p. 73 Table 8: Objective 3, Deliverables, Key Performance Indicators and Achievement Highlights 2010-11 Objective 3: Maintain a high performing, effective and efficient organisation Deliverable Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Effective knowledge management Maintain and develop systems, services and processes to generate, capture and apply information to support management of the Marine Park. Redevelopment of the Authority's website into a knowledge portal. Implemented comprehensive knowledge management audit. Launched new corporate website. Implemented IT improvements including a wireless email communications system, secure collaboration portal, learning management system and project management framework. Good governance Maintain a good standard of governance. Extent of implementation of the Authority's international engagement strategy. Advice to government is timely, accurate and effective. Conform with all legislative and regulatory requirements achieving at least APS average benchmark where appropriate. Conform with all legislative and regulatory requirements achieving at least APS average benchmark where appropriate. Managed 15 international visits during the year of 143 officials from 13 countries. Timely, accurate and effective advice was provided to government throughout 2010-11. A high level of compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements achieved. PERFORMANCE 65 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 8: Continued Objective 3: Maintain a high performing effective and efficient organisation Deliverable Reef HQ Aquarium A world-class living reef exhibition for people of all ages at ReefHQ Aquarium complemented by experiential education opportunities Nearly 122,000 visitors — a 6.8 per cent increase on the visitation target set for the year. Winner at North Queensland Tourism Awards in 2010. Finalist at the Queensland Tourism Awards 2010. 19 capital works projects worth $1.8m completed 2010-11. Key Performance Indicator Achievement highlights Communication and education Effective Great Barrier Reef-related education and communication activities. Branding, media, and promotional collateral to support launches of Reef Guardian Fishers and Farmers. Managed national and international media interest in cyclone Yasi and floods. Significant Reef Guardian Schools initiatives, including Future Leaders Eco Challenge (FLEC), Ripples of Change, and networking. Overview A high performing, effective and efficient organisation is central to GBRMPA achieving its goals and objectives. Emphasis is placed on the maintenance and development of good knowledge management systems, services and process as well as maintaining a good standard of governance. In addition, Reef HQ Aquarium – the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef continues to deliver a world-class living reef exhibition for people of all ages complemented by a suite of education activities. Lastly GBRMPA's comprehensive communication and education programs ensure the agency connects with the Australian community so the Great Barrier Reef can be protected into the future. Highlights 2010-11 • • • • Conducted a comprehensive Knowledge Management Audit Launched a new corporate website Improved Information technology features, including a wireless email communications system and secure collaboration portal Managed 15 international visits during the year of 143 officials from 13 countries for discussions about the management of the Great Barrier Reef; 11 GBRMPA staff also travelled overseas to assist other countries 66 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • Reef HQ Aquarium enhanced its position as a tourism leader in North Queensland, welcoming nearly 122,000 visitors — a 6.8 per cent increase on the visitation target set for the year Launched a major advertising campaign to raise awareness about risks to the Reef and community efforts to address them. • EFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE MANAGMENT The GBRMPA places high importance on the effective management of organisational knowledge and information sharing as a way to do business better. In 2010-11, the GBRMPA completed an audit of our current knowledge management approach. The audit was the first phase in the development of a new Knowledge Management strategy. The aim is to streamline our processes and reduce duplication, improve strategic business planning and project coordination, and maximise the skills, expertise and resources within the agency. All staff and executives participated in the audit, contributing their insights of current practices and making hundreds of suggestions on how the GBRMPA can move forward in a smarter, more strategic way. An independent consultant completed a report based on the findings of the audit, which provided a number of recommendations for achieving improvements in knowledge management. These included increasing staff awareness of the GBRMPA's goals, priorities, functions and operations; enhancing systems to improve staff access to corporate knowledge and critical records; and enhancing GBRMPA's leadership on knowledge management. The audit has delivered considerable insights to the GBRMPA about its knowledge systems, services and processes, and how it can improve the capture and application of information to support the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. In 2011-12, the GBRMPA will roll out the second phase of the initiative, which will involve implementing key recommendations from the audit. Redevelopment of corporate website In 2010-11, the GBRMPA undertook a comprehensive redevelopment of its corporate website to ensure it could better meet the needs of the site's users and serve as an effective communication tool to support the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. By the close of the financial year, the new website was constructed and due to go live early in 2011-12. The GBRMPA website receives more than 50,000 visits each month, making it one of the most important ways for people interested in the Reef to access information about the Marine Park, including guidelines for recreational or commercial use of the Great Barrier Reef. It is a vital resource for thousands of users from across Australia and overseas, including fishers, researchers, tourists, commercial operators from the tourism and fishing sectors, schools, councils, farmers, community groups and many other stakeholders. PERFORMANCE 67 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Popular topics include zoning maps and permits; the plants and animals of the Great Barrier Reef; the outlook for the Marine Park; our partners in managing the Great Barrier Reef, including Reef Guardians, Traditional Owners and research institutions; and major initiatives such as the Climate Change Action Plan and Reef Rescue. The focus of the new website is to present information in a way that caters to the interests of the GBRMPA's website visitors, ensuring it is organised by topics relevant to them. The content has been streamlined and made more accessible, and considerable improvements have been made to the site's search engine, which enables users to find materials in an easier, faster way. Features of the new site include an interactive map on the home page, which creates an innovative way for users to access geographically based information about the Great Barrier Reef, and a 'secure' forum, accessed by a log-in, through which GBRMPA stakeholder groups can hold discussions and share materials. The new website is an informative and easy-to-use communications tool, which is integral to the successful management of the Great Barrier Reef. It helps to generate greater appreciation of the Great Barrier Reef's remarkable diversity and the need to protect it, and encourages compliance. Information and communications technology In 2010-11, GBRMPA developed and delivered several successful information and communications technology (ICT) projects to improve employee productivity, mobility and stakeholder and community engagement, including: • • • • Wireless email communications system Secure collaboration portal Learning management system Project and program management framework. In response to the Efficient Government Policy and expectations of improved internal information and communications technology (ICT) systems and services, the delivery of these services to the agency were reviewed in 2010-11. The review sought to identify the best approach to improve ICT service quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The GBRMPA’s review of its ICT Strategy led to the implementation of an improved plan that identified assessed and prioritised information and communications technology investments. The GBRMPA will make major investments in infrastructure and systems in 2011-2012 to reform its business processes and integrate systems to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The project and program management initiative reviewed previous work undertaken in the area and examined GBRMPA’s processes and support systems. This analysis confirmed project and program management as a required capability to improve GBRMPA’s ability to provide quality products in an efficient and effective manner. 68 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 GOOD GOVERNANCE The GBRMPA's governance framework is based on the legislative requirements of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, and the Public Service Act 1999, with a focus on engaging the community in management of the Marine Park. In 2010-11, the GBRMPA made improvements across the organisation designed to improve the engagement with government departments, local and international communities, and stakeholders; and provide more effective management of the Marine Park. International engagement strategy The GBRMPA is regarded as a global leader in marine conservation management. The agency is the subject of regular and frequent requests by others to share our experiences in managing the Great Barrier Reef. The GBRMPA International Engagement Strategy is based on the premise that it is valuable to the development of the organisation and its staff to engage with like-minded colleagues in other countries. By engaging with others while minimising costs to the agency, the GBRMPA can both showcase Australian innovation and best practice and at the same time learn valuable lessons from others. This process of constant improvement is a valuable development tool for staff and a key mechanism for ensuring the management arrangements for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park remain cutting edge. The agency's International Engagement Strategy was effectively implemented in 2010-11. The GBRMPA hosted 15 visits during the year comprising a total of 143 officials from 13 countries for discussions on the full range of topics concerning management of the Great Barrier Reef. GBRMPA staff had the opportunity of exchanging ideas and lessons learned with our international guests. Management of international cooperation in accordance with the International Engagement Strategy resulted in no requests to host international delegations being declined. In addition, 11 GBRMPA staff undertook assignments overseas during the year visiting 12 countries. These visits included targeted international conferences, a meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative, and workshops and seminars where GBRMPA staff were engaged as key trainers. Approximately 80 per cent of that international travel was funded external to the GBRMPA's budget. During the year the Government proposed that Australia take on the role of host of the International Coral Reef Initiative for the 2012-13 biennium following the current hosting by the governments of France and Samoa. This offer was received with enthusiasm by members of the Initiative and Australia's hosting of the Initiative was confirmed. This is a significant international engagement by the Government and will further offer opportunities for the GBRMPA to showcase Australian leadership in coral reef management and to remain a high performing agency. PERFORMANCE 69 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Timely, accurate and effective advice to government The GBRMPA maintains strong relationships with the Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities portfolio to deliver timely, accurate and effective advice through the ministerial workflow system. In 2010-11 the Minister responded to letters from people who were concerned about impacts on the Great Barrier Reef from climate change, shipping, pesticides, fishing and contaminated coal water. The extreme weather events over the 2010-11 summer — floods and cyclone Yasi — required the GBRMPA offices in Townsville and Rockhampton to close for safety reasons. During this time, senior staff maintained contact with operational offices and provided status reports. This briefing continued in a more formal manner when offices reopened and the focus moved from immediate safety to recovery efforts. Information Publication Scheme From 1 May 2011, Australian Government agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 were required to develop an Information Publication Scheme (IPS). An IPS requires the publication of a broad range of information on the agency's website. In early 2011, the GBRMPA developed, and began to implement, an agency plan for how it will meet the IPS requirements. The agency plan is required to be accurate, up-to-date and complete, and will be reviewed and updated annually. Records compliance and management The focus of compliance for 2010-11 was based around the improvement of recordkeeping systems utilised by the Authority. Research was conducted into the Electronic Document and Records Management Systems (EDRMS) in the marketplace and discussions held with organisations who have recently undertaken implementation projects. A document management working group was established to identify how individual groups captured documents and their related metadata and the software utilised. This information will be incorporated to create a single register that is compliant with National Archives of Australia specifications. The Records Management Unit is responsible for completing two mandatory government reports – the Senate Continuing Order for Indexed List of Departmental or Agency Files (also known as 'the Harradine Report') and the Australian Privacy Commissioner's Personal Information Digest. The Senate Report was compiled in July 2010 and February 2011 and captures the agency files that have been created in the previous six months. Exemptions or part redactions are applied to ensure that business or personal information is treated in a confidential manner. The Personal Information Digest lists the types of stakeholder information held by the agency and the business reasons for doing so. File creation During the 2010-11 financial year, 2987 files were created to record the agency's core and administrative business. The GBRMPA conducts inductions with newly appointed staff to highlight their personal responsibilities and the established processes to meet legislative requirements. 70 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Mail and freight services Australia Post is contracted by the agency to deliver local, national and international mail. For the 2010-11 financial year, $81,761 was spent to relay information to GBMRPA stakeholders to raise awareness about the Reef and its outlook and to ensure compliance with the Zoning Plan and other management arrangements. Information included zoning maps the bi-monthly agency newsletter SeaRead and standard business correspondence. Various courier services are utilised dependent on the post item and receiver's location. Library Services The Library and Image Services continued to provide service delivery to all GBRMPA staff and external clients, focusing on expanding the range of electronic information, journals and services available to clients. Achievements include over 1100 interlibrary loan requests completed; digitising of valuable and extremely rare legacy bathymetric marine mapping information produced between 1980 and 1992 as part of the Marine Survey Program involving the Australian Institute of Marine Science, GBRMPA and James Cook University; bibliographic research and editorial support to agency staff; and the development of a standard citation format for GBRMPA publications. Service Charter The agency's Service Charter states its outcome, approach, services, clients and standards to all. It outlines how people can find out more about the agency and encourages feedback. It states GBRMPA's commitment to all stakeholders. During 2010-11, the Service Charter was updated. This process was to align the Service Charter with the Corporate Plan 2009-2014 as well as ensuring it reflected current management arrangements for the Marine Park. REEF HQ AQUARIUM Reef HQ Aquarium is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and is the Australian Government's National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Through the provision of educational and information services, Reef HQ Aquarium ensures the community and stakeholders have a clear understanding of the value of the Great Barrier Reef, the threats to its sustainable future and their role in protecting it. Reef HQ Aquarium consistently meets visitor expectations and continues to maintain visitation numbers — in spite of a contracting tourism market, further compromised by a strong Australian dollar and impacts of natural disasters. During 2010-11 Reef HQ Aquarium welcomed 121,731 visitors — a 6.8 per cent increase on the visitation target set for the year. Over 70,000 of the visitors to the Aquarium participated in specialist talks and tours, playing a key role in raising community awareness in relation to best environmental practices and encouraging behavioural change that will benefit the environment and the Great Barrier Reef. PERFORMANCE 71 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Highlights for 2010-11: • Reef HQ Aquarium was the winner of the Major Tourism Attraction, Eco Tourism and New Tourism Development categories at the North Queensland Tourism Awards in 2010 and a finalist at the Queensland Tourism Awards 2010. Ecotourism Australia certified Reef HQ Aquarium under their Advanced Eco Tourism, Climate Action Business and Respecting our Culture certification. The Tourism Quality Council of Australia recognised Reef HQ Aquarium under the National Tourism Accreditation Framework and permitted the use of the Australian Tourism Quality Assured (T-QUAL) trade mark. • • Capital works improvement program After 23 years of successful operation, Reef HQ Aquarium’s age and location in tropical north Queensland combined with inherent infrastructure stresses of saltwater aquariums meant the facility and its supporting infrastructure required some attention to ensure operational effectiveness, attractiveness and longevity. The Australian Government provided $4m in capital funding to ReefHQ, and a capital investment plan was developed and implemented to expend this funding over 2010-11 and 2011-12. The primary focus of capital investment during 2010-11 has been to upgrade and renew critical supporting infrastructure to meet current Australian Standards and to upgrade Aquarium Life Support Systems to ensure resilience in the Aquarium's coral reef exhibition. There were 19 capital works projects scheduled for completion in 2010-11with a combined value of $1.8m. All projects were completed according to the implementation schedule and were delivered on time and within budget. This capital investment will deliver to the Australian Government a facility which has building infrastructure that meets current Australian Standards; is operationally efficient; and demonstrates world's best practice in Reef education, aquarium life support systems and animal husbandry. Reef HQ Turtle Hospital Over 23,900 people visited Reef HQ Aquarium's Turtle Hospital during 2010-11. The hospital operates under and promotes the C.A.R.E (Conserve. Act. Rehabilitate. Educate) philosophy playing a key role in raising community awareness in relation to threatened species and encouraging behavioural change that will benefit these threatened species. During 2010-11 the Turtle Hospital cared for 57 turtles; 20 have been released and 15 are still in rehabilitation and their prognosis is quite good. Formal education programs Formal Reef education programs are delivered to students across all stages of learning on local, regional, national and international scales. Reef education programs were facilitated to 11,945 students — a 19.5 per cent increase on the education program participation target set for the year. 72 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The Aquarium's Reef Videoconferencing program continues to grow and be recognised internationally as an example of best practice educational content delivery. During 2010-11, Reef HQ Aquarium facilitated 162 Reef Videoconferences reaching 5855 students across Australia and the world. Volunteers Reef HQ Aquarium continues to be well supported by the Reef HQ Volunteer Association with volunteers contributing over 12,446 hours of voluntary service across all designated work groups within the Aquarium. COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION The GBRMPA implemented a comprehensive communication and education program in 2010-11. The program assists GBRMPA to connect with the Australian community about the Great Barrier Reef and its management, and to meet its strategic and operational obligations, including: • • • Raising awareness about the unique values of the Great Barrier Reef and the threats to its sustainability Giving recognition to and promoting involvement in community stewardship initiatives Supporting compliance and permitting activities. Priorities for 2010-11 included strategic communications for the Climate Change Action Plan, the Extreme Weather Response Program, Reef Guardians, Indigenous Partnerships, and Field Management, as well as positioning of water quality and coastal ecosystem issues, and tourism related initiatives. In addition, the GBRMPA managed a busy media section, responding to inquiries on numerous issues, and produced a range of publications, including SeaRead magazine; scientific publications; a corporate brochure; and operational materials, such as training products for the Eye on the Reef program. SeaRead is a bi-monthly publication that includes stories about the Reef, its outlook and management. It is distributed to more than 1800 stakeholders. GBRMPA's website was also redeveloped in 2010-11 to ensure it is relevant, streamlined and user-friendly (see Knowledge Management section). PERFORMANCE 73 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Raising awareness about the Great Barrier Reef and its outlook Raising awareness about the unique biodiversity and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and helping the community to understand the threats to its health and what needs to be done to support it, underline the communications and education initiatives of the GBRMPA. A communication plan was developed and implemented to support the Climate Change Action Plan, and included media stories, website content, information sheets and other materials. The extreme weather over summer, including cyclone Yasi and record flooding in Central Queensland, required significant communications support. Interest in the impact on the Great Barrier Reef generated both national and international media interest. During the extreme weather response, the GBRMPA fielded numerous inquiries, and released several media statements. These included a joint media statement with the tourism industry and a media conference to announce the findings of an assessment of reefs affected by the cyclone. The communications ensured communities and stakeholders received up-to-date and factual information about the impacts, and addressed some misconceptions about the extent and location of damage within the Marine Park. As part of a wider Australian Government response to the summer's natural disasters, the GBRMPA received $1.08m to implement an Extreme Weather Response Program (refer to Extreme Weather Response Program case study on page 25). Communications and education initiatives included: • 'Go slow and look out below' posters and information sheets to promote awareness of boating best practice, to minimise harm to dugongs and turtles on the move due to damage to their habitats food sources. 'Wow, I saw something special on the Reef' promotion of the Sightings Network, to encourage Reef users to let GBRMPA know about the activities of marine animals. Funding support for communications to promote the Island Hitchhikers program, a pest control initiative of the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. Media releases about tracking of turtle movements, necropsy training and other stories. • • • Stewardship communications Reef Guardians A media and communication plan supported the expansion of the Reef Guardians program in 2010-11, including the launch of the fishers and farmers pilot programs. This achieved wide spread media coverage and reached communities throughout the region, with the aim of promoting the value of being involved in the program and encouraging participation into the future. Work included: • • Fresh branding, including new logos and signage Media launches of the fishers and farmers pilot programs 74 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • • Series of media releases and stories about the Ripples of Change grants and Future Leaders Eco Challenge Suite of promotional materials for field days, expos and other community-based contacts A brochure and fact sheets. This work was in addition to the major advertising campaign that highlighted the threats to the Reef and showcased the environmental efforts of Reef Guardians to care for the Reef (see Section 1 of this Performance Chapter, Communicating the risks). Indigenous Partnerships communications The focus of communications for Indigenous Partnerships is to raise awareness about the integral role of Traditional Owners in managing their sea country and to recognise and promote the partnership between Indigenous communities and marine management agencies to support the sustainable use of marine resources. Key communication initiatives in 2010-11 included: • • • Development of a Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) Toolkit, to assist Indigenous communities to develop and implement a TUMRA. Sponsorship with 4K1G Indigenous radio, including three one-hour programs about projects under the Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program. Promotional materials to support the Story Place database, a library resource for those interested in learning more about Traditional Owner connections with the Great Barrier Reef. Media releases and stories for Eyes and Ears compliance training program, Sea Country Partnerships grants and other initiatives. A range of radio and press advertisements to support Sea Country Partnerships Grants and Sponsorship programs. • • Field Management communications The GBRMPA implements an annual Field Management communication and education program, to promote compliance with the Marine Park's zoning plan. The aim is to ensure users of the Marine Park are aware of the rules and can access information and materials to help them know where they can go and what they can do. Initiatives in 2010-11 included: • • • • • Distributing zoning maps, information sheets and other materials through Community Access Points (CAPs), located throughout the Great Barrier Reef Region Updating of zoning maps 1 to 8, as part of a major program to update all maps Print and electronic advertising during peak boating seasons, such as Easter and Christmas Media releases and stories Tide Times booklets, tailored to meet needs of four different regions in the Great Barrier Reef Region. PERFORMANCE 75 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • Reef tourism operators also assisted in distributing zoning information to visitors. The program helped to promote how important but vulnerable the Great Barrier Reef is, and what we can do to care for it, working together today for a healthier Reef tomorrow. Education about coastal ecosystems The GBRMPA also provides some specific educational material on the values of coastal ecosystems to the Great Barrier Reef, specifically through the ongoing maintenance of 12 wetland kiosks in science and education facilities throughout the Great Barrier Reef catchment. These interactive kiosks provide information on the values of wetlands not only to the Great Barrier Reef but also to different communities and sectors and continue to raise awareness of these values generally to thousands of children each year. [ CASE STUDY ] Reef Guardian Schools Reef Guardian Schools is an environmental sustainability education program which is action-based to develop positive attitudes and behaviours in schools and broader communities. The program continued to enjoy enormous success in 2010-11, the number of schools increased to 270. The participating schools are located across the Great Barrier Reef catchment, from north in Torres Strait, south to Bundaberg and including schools on Palm Island and in Brisbane, reaching more than 60,000 students. The key events in the Reef Guardian School calendar are: • The Reef Guardian Schools Future Leaders Eco Challenges (FLECs). In 2010 the theme of the FLECs was 'sustaining biodiversity'. Seventeen events were held in regional locations across the catchment, with 936 participants, 107 schools, 626 students, 135 teachers, 196 environmental facilitators and 91 partner organisations. Reef Guardian Networking Meetings: Teachers from the Great Barrier Reef region were invited to attend networking events that were also attended by environmental industry representatives. Teachers were encouraged to discuss with each other and the industry representatives some ideas for environmentally themed curriculum activities. Meetings were held in Townsville, the Whitsundays, Burdekin, Charters Towers and Mackay. • The Reef Guardian Schools Program supports environmental initiatives and activities through a series of awards. In 2010-11, the following awards were presented: • Reef Guardian annual awards: Ten schools are awarded under specific categories. These awards are presented to schools who have taken action to reduce human impacts on the Great Barrier Reef (awarded to 10 schools and worth $1000 each). 76 PERFORMANCE G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 [Case study: Reef Guardian Schools Contd.] • Ripples of Change: rewarding environmental initiatives undertaken by schools (awarded to 20 schools and worth $500 each) including creek restoration projects, biodiversity improvement projects, worm farms and composting programs, recycling programs and water quality monitoring programs. Table 9: Quantitative Deliverables and Key Performance Indicators – Targets and Achievements since 2008-09 2008-09 Target (Achievement) 600 (Yes) 11 (11) n.a Yes (Yes) 2009-10 Target (Achievement) 600 (622) 11 (11) n.a Yes (Yes) 2010-11 Target (Achievement) 650 (750) 11 (11) 4 (4) Yes (Yes) Deliverable Permits issued per annum [#] Local Marine Advisory Committees in place [#] Reef Advisory Committees in place [#] Heritage Obligations under World Heritage Convention and EPBC Act fulfilled Key performance indicator Reef HQ Aquarium visitors [#] Reef Guardian Schools [#] Reef Guardian Councils [#] Local Marine Advisory Committee (LMAC) meetings held [#] Reef Advisory Committee meetings held [#] Students reached by formal education programs, face to face and through videoconferencing [#] Tourists carried on High Standard Operators [%] 118,000 (125,108) 110 (yes) n.a 66 (66) n.a n.a 110,000 (130,700) 170 (220) 8 (10) 64 (42) n.a 10,000 (13,200) 40 (50) 114,000 (121,731) 180 (270) 14 (13*) 44 (43**) 8 (8) 10,000 (11,945) 45 (60) 40 (50) * All councils along the Great Barrier Reef coastline are now Reef Guardian Councils, and discussions are underway with relevant hinterland councils. ** One LMAC meeting cancelled due to impacts from cyclone Yasi PERFORMANCE 77 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 78 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 79 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) governance framework is based on the legislative requirements of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, the Public Service Act 1999 and a focus on engaging the community in management of the Marine Park. The GBRMPA's senior executives and their responsibilities are shown in the organisational chart in the Overview section of this report. THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY (THE BOARD) The Chairman and Members of the Board are chosen by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and appointed by the Governor-General. Membership of the Board Dr Russell Reichelt Chairman and Chief Executive of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Russell Reichelt joined the GBRMPA in 2007 as Chairman and Chief Executive. Dr Reichelt is a board member of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. He began diving on the Great Barrier Reef in 1968 and worked as a research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in the 1980s, studying the ecology of coral reefs, particularly the crown-of-thorns starfish. He has a PhD in marine science and has served as CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Chairman of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and as a member of Australia’s State of the Environment Committee. He has previously chaired the National Oceans Advisory Group, CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship Advisory Committee and Seafood Services Australia Ltd. He is an Adjunct Professor at James Cook University and the University of Queensland; and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (UK) and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 1 November 2007 for a five-year term finishing on 31 October 2012. Russell Beer Russell Beer is a lawyer and partner of Queensland law firm MacDonnells Law where he leads the firm's commercial team. He practises commercial and business law and government advisory. Mr Beer's recent work includes commercial advice on climate change and Australia's proposed emissions trading scheme, and air and sea port issues. Before returning to full-time legal practice in 2008, Mr Beer was the firm's Chairman of Partners for a decade. Mr Beer lives in Cairns and is the Chairman of Advance Cairns. He also holds committee roles in sporting and charity organisations. He is a former member of the Ministerial Advisory 80 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Council for the Australian Government's Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 29 August 2008 for a three-year term finishing on 28 August 2011. Melissa George Melissa George is a Wulgurukaba woman whose traditional area includes Magnetic Island and the greater Townsville region. She's been actively involved in protecting and managing land and sea through community natural resource management projects and liaising with and advising the Queensland and Australian Government. Ms George has been a member of the Australian Government's Indigenous Advisory Committee (EPBC Act) since 2002 and Chair since 2006. She was appointed as a member of the Authority on 29 August 2008 for a four-year term which finishes on 28 August 2012. Daniel Gschwind Daniel Gschwind is the CEO for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), which is Queensland’s peak tourism industry body with members across all regions and all tourism sectors. Mr Gschwind is a board member of the National Tourism Alliance (NTA) and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC). He represents QTIC on various tourism committees, including the Tourism Forecasting Council, the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council and the state wide Tourism Industry Forum for National Parks. He has been a member of the GBRMPA’s Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee since 1999. He is an Adjunct Professor to the School of Tourism at the University of Queensland. Mr Gschwind is the Honorary Consul of Switzerland for Queensland. He holds an honours degree in economics from the University of Queensland and has worked as a senior economist with Queensland Treasury. He was appointed as a member of the Authority on 9 April 2009, for a four-year term finishing on 8 April 2013. Ken Smith (Board membership term ended during 2010-11) Ken Smith became a member of the GBRMPA in 2007 (and ended his term in 2011). Mr Smith has been the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet since September 2007. He has also been Queensland's Coordinator General and Director-General of the Departments of Infrastructure, Education and the Arts; Employment and Training; Families, Youth and Community Care and Housing; and Local Government and Planning. As a senior public servant in Queensland for more than 18 years, Mr Smith has taken a lead role in many fundamental reforms in the state, particularly in education. Mr Smith is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Sydney. In 2008, he was appointed Chair of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. Mr Smith's membership term ended on 30 January 2011. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 81 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Meeting schedule During 2010-11, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority held four meetings (Table 10). Table 10: Meetings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2010-11 Meeting MPA 214 MPA 215 MPA 216 MPA 217 Date 20 September 2010 29 November 2010 19 February 2011 6 June 2011 Location Townsville Brisbane Townsville Cairns Attendance Russell Reichelt, Russell Beer, Melissa George, Daniel Gschwind, (apology Ken Smith). Russell Reichelt, Russell Beer, Melissa George, Daniel Gschwind, Ken Smith. Russell Reichelt, Russell Beer, Melissa George Daniel Gschwind, (apology Ken Smith). Russell Reichelt, Russell Beer, Daniel Gschwind, (apologies Melissa George and Ken Smith). GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY AUDIT COMMITTEE The GBRMPA is a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act). Under the FMA Act, the Chairman as Chief Executive must establish and maintain an Audit Committee. The objective of the Audit Committee is to ensure that the GBRMPA adheres to a high standard of corporate governance, manages public funds in an efficient and effective manner, and achieves its outcomes in accordance with its business strategy and strategic plans whilst carrying out its responsibilities under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. The following people were members of the Audit Committee during 2010-11: • • • • Mr Russell Beer, Chairman Ms Fay Barker, OAM, FAICD member Mr Mike Goodman, member until 14 April 2011 and Director, Internal Audit and Risk Services, Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet Mr Roy Peterson, member and Partner, Price Waterhouse Coopers Australia. Business activities of the Audit Committee addressed the areas covered in the Charter of Operations (as detailed below under roles and responsibilities) with particular emphasis on: • • • • • • Annual financial statements Charter of Operation Financial management Internal audit reports Planning processes Environmental Management Charge 82 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • Reporting requirements and processes Performance Assessment. Meeting schedule During 2010-11 the Audit Committee held four meetings (Table 11). Table 11: Meetings of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Audit Committee, 2010-11 Meeting AC48 AC49 AC50 AC51 Date 17 September 2010 8 November 2010 14 February 2011 16 May 2011 Location Townsville Townsville Townsville Townsville Attendance Mr Russell Beer, Ms Fay Barker OAM, Mr Mike Goodman, Mr Roy Peterson Mr Russell Beer, Ms Fay Barker OAM, Mr Mike Goodman, Mr Roy Peterson Mr Russell Beer, Ms Fay Barker OAM, Mr Mike Goodman, Mr Roy Peterson Mr Russell Beer, Ms Fay Barker OAM, Mr Roy Peterson Roles and responsibilities The Committee has no executive powers except those expressly provided by the Finance Minister’s Orders or delegated to it by the Chief Executive. The Committee is directly responsible and accountable to the Chief Executive for the exercise of its responsibilities. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Committee must at all times recognise that primary responsibility for management of the GBRMPA under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 rests with the Chief Executive. The responsibilities of the Committee may be revised or expanded in consultation with, or as requested by, the Chief Executive and the GBRMPA Board from time to time. Roles and responsibilities are set out in the Audit Committee Charter of Operation, reflecting requirements under the FMA Act and Regulations. It covers: Management and accountability • Risk management - Risk Management Framework - Disaster Recovery Plans - Fraud Control Plan Control framework - Chief Executive instructions - Policies and procedures - Delegations External accountability - Financial statements - Parliamentary Committee Reports - Performance management framework • • M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 83 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • Legislative compliance - Legal and compliance risks - Compliance with relevant laws, regulations and associated government policies Internal audit - Internal audit strategic coverage and annual work plan - Internal Audit Charter - Review of Audit Committee performance External audit - Review of external plans and reports regarding planned and completed audits - Monitoring of management's implementation of audit recommendations Responsibilities of members - Members are expected to understand and observe the legal requirements of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. • • • ADVISORY COMMITTEES The GBRMPA has a number of committees that provide support and strategic advice. These include four issues-focused Reef Advisory Committees and 11 Local Marine Advisory Committees. Other committees may be appointed from time to time to deal with specific issues. All committees have terms of reference and procedures established by the GBRMPA. Committee composition and membership is reviewed as required. Reef Advisory Committees The GBRMPA has four Reef Advisory Committees • • • • Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee. A key role for the Committees is to advise the GBRMPA about actions that can be taken to address the risks to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. They are competency-based committees comprising a cross-section of stakeholder interests with expertise and experience in relevant areas. Each works closely with staff of the relevant branch and sections to ensure policy development and strategic direction are developed in consultation with stakeholders. Each of the Committees includes members appointed as a representative of a particular group or sector (e.g. industry, recreational, government) or for their linkages to Traditional Owner groups. 84 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 They are appointed by the Board for a term of three years and members are eligible for reappointment. The current three-year term expires on 31 December 2012. Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee The Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee provides critical advice and support to the GBRMPA on a range of matters including implementation of the key findings of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009, the protection of coastal ecosystems, planning and management of the coastal zone, the impact of climate change on the coast and halting and reversing the decline of water quality. The Committee held two meetings in 2010-11 (6-7 October 2010 and 13 April 2011). Critical advice and support included working towards a coastal strategy for the Great Barrier Reef catchment and implementing an integrated approach to coastal management. This included looking at ways to address gaps in existing planning frameworks in Great Barrier Reef catchments. Additionally, comments and advice were sought on the Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy and the Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee The Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee provides critical advice and support on a range of matters including the implementation of key findings of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009, maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes, ensuring use of the Great Barrier Reef is ecologically sustainable and ensuring heritage values are maintained. The Committee held two meetings in 2010-11 (1-2 September 2010 and 30 March 2011). This year, support and advice provided by the committee included developing the Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy, the Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, sustainable fishing in the Marine Park, the Ecological Risk Assessment for the East Coast Trawl Fishery, improvements in environmental impact assessment and World Heritage matters. Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee provides critical advice and support to the GBRMPA on a range of matters. These include, but are not limited to, advising the GBRMPA on the implementation of various programs and strategies that impact Indigenous communities, and ways to facilitate partnerships, build capacity and engage with Traditional Owners to manage biological and cultural marine resources. In addition, the Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee advises the GBRMPA on innovative and best practice communications approaches. These enable information exchange between Indigenous people, managers and Reef stakeholders and create appropriate mechanisms to manage traditional use of marine resources, including Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs) across the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The Committee held two meetings in 2010-11 (23-24 November 2010 and 6-7 April 2011). Among a range of topics, the committee provided advice and support on effective liaison with Indigenous communities, the the Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and progress on the Reef Rescue Indigenous Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 85 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee The Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee provides advice and support to the GBRMPA on a range of matters. These include implementation of the key findings of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009; strengthening partnerships with the tourism industry, recreation sector, communities and government; and the development and implementation of policy and priorities for research and monitoring to enhance the Reef's resilience. The committee also provides advice on ensuring tourism and recreation use of the Marine Park is ecologically sustainable. The Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee held three meetings in 2010-11 (8-9 September 2010, 3-4 March 2011 and 1-2 June 2011). The committee provided guidance to the GBRMPA on the development of the Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy and the Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Advice and support was also provided on the social and economic impacts of floods and cyclones on Great Barrier Reef tourism, climate change initiatives for the tourism industry, responding to environmental incidents, tourism compliance priorities, catchment runoff and coastal development, the Environmental Management Charge; and environmental assessment and management of marine infrastructure within the Marine Park. Local Marine Advisory Committees Eleven Local Marine Advisory Committees are operational along the Great Barrier Reef catchment. More information on activities and support provided by Local Marine Advisory Committees is provided in Section 2 of the Performance Chapter on page 62. Indigenous representation Indigenous representation on the GBRMPA's various committees is strongly encouraged and supported. The Marine Park Authority Board includes a statutory requirement to include Indigenous representation. The Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee, Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee and the Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee each include Indigenous representation. Each of the individual Local Marine Advisory Committee's includes a broad cross-section of community interests and Indigenous representation varies on these committees. 86 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 CORPORATE AND OPERATIONAL PLANS The GBRMPA carries out planning at the strategic and operational levels. The corporate planning process is show in Figure 9. Figure 9: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's corporate planning process Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and other relevant legislation Government policies Portfolio Budget Statement Includes agreed Agency Outcome Statement and describes outcomes, outputs Key Performance Indicators and targets and basis for funding Annual Report Prepared every year for the Minister and for Parliament EMG priorities Corporate Plan Outlines our vision, values, operating environment and priorities - with a four year horizon, but reviewed annually Outlook Report Due every five years to the Minister and Parliament USED WITHIN THE GBRMPA Annual Operating Plan Describes specific actions and budgeted activities to implement strategies under each Key Performance Indicator and output Fraud Control, Organisational Risk and Risk Management Plans Individual staff performance plans Performance Plan Review Corporate Plan 2010-2014 The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Corporate Plan 2010-2014 takes into account the outcomes of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 and outlines the direction and priorities of the GBRMPA. It focuses the agency on delivering outcomes required by legislation, especially the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, through three objectives: • • • Address key risks affecting the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef Ensure management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Maintain a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 87 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Annual Operating Plans The GBRMPA develops annual operating plans for each Section of the agency. These plans clearly set out, in a detailed level, objectives, strategies, outputs, relevant performance indicators and targets and resources available. Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 The development of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 was one of the key recommendations from the Review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 – Review Panel Report 2006. The first Outlook Report, which assessed performance of the long-term protection of the Marine Park in an accountable and transparent manner, was completed in 2009. Fraud control and risk management plans The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Fraud Control Plan 2009-2012 was adopted in 2010 and ensures that the GBRMPA has in place appropriate fraud prevention, detection, investigation, reporting and data collection procedures and processes, which meet the specific needs of the GBRMPA and comply with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. SERVICE CHARTER 2011-2015 The GBRMPA's Service Charter outlines the agency's goals, aims, customers, and commitments to those customers. The Service Charter was updated during 2010-11 to further reflect the agency's continuing aim of providing the appropriate service to meet its commitments. The GBRMPA aims to provide the appropriate service to meet all of its commitments. These services will continue to develop as new issues arise and the Service Charter will be reviewed regularly in line with these changes. Information in Section 3 of the Performance Chapter provides more information. The Service Charter is available on the GBRMPA's website (www.gbrmpa.gov.au). ETHICAL STANDARDS The GBRMPA is committed to the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct set out in the Australian Public Service Act 1999. The Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct is an integral part of the People Management framework and referred to in the agency's Corporate Plan 2010-2014 and the Enterprise Agreement 2009-2011. All Executive level staff are required to provide a formal signed acknowledgement that they have read the APS Values, Code of Conduct and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) publication, Respect, and that they will practise and promote ethical standards within their area of responsibility. Accountability in terms of application of ethical standards is reflected in annual performance appraisals. Information is provided to staff on ethical standards through the agency's internal intranet, induction procedures, Chairman's update and staff seminars. Senior executive remuneration Information on senior executive remuneration is included in the Financial statements beginning on page 98. 88 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY The GBRMPA maintained its commitment to meeting the Government’s objective of enhancing social justice and equity, outlined in the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society. As far as practicable, the GBRMPA aims to provide all Australians with equitable access to its services in a manner appropriate to their individual needs. The Local Marine Advisory Committees meet on a regular basis to provide feedback to GBRMPA on a range of topical Great Barrier Reef issues. The committees provide local people with an opportunity to identify regional issues of importance as well as broader issues of concern throughout the Marine Park and help to develop policy responses to those matters. This helps to inform GBRMPA’s decision-making processes. The GBRMPA makes ongoing efforts to encourage representation from a wide range of individuals and interest groups. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SCRUTINY The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Audit Committee Charter and other documents reflect the requirements for Audit Committees under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. Stanton International Pty Ltd were contracted to provide internal audit services during 2010-11. Stanton International work in accordance with an agreed Strategic Internal Audit Plan. In line with the Australian Government's focus on accountability and corporate governance, audit activity concentrated on areas of high risk, the adequacy of existing control frameworks and compliance with the provisions of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. There were no judicial decisions that significantly impacted on the GBRMPA's operations during the 2010-11 period. Australian National Audit Office reports Moore Stephens, under contract to the Australian National Audit Office, undertook the external audit of the GBRMPA’s 2010-11 Financial Statements (See Chapter 3 Finances). The GBRMPA was included in the following Auditor General’s Reports tabled in Parliament during 2010-11: • No. 22 – Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2010. The following Auditor General Reports of 2010-11 can contain recommendations of relevance to the GBRMPA: • • • No. 7 – Confidentiality in Government Contracts: Senate Order for Departmental and Agency Contracts (Calendar year 2009 Compliance) No. 11 – Direct Source Procurement No. 14 – Capitalisation of Software M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 89 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • • • No. 29 – Management of New Policy Initiatives No. 33 – The Protection and Security of Electronic Information Held by Australian Government Agencies No. 38 – Management of the Certificate of Compliance Process in FMA Act Agencies No. 54 – Interim Phase of the Audit of Financial Statements of Major General Government Sector Agencies for the year ending 30 June 2011. Internal audit reports The GBRMPA’s Audit Committee met four times during the year and considered external and internal audit reports. During 2010-11 internal audits were undertaken in the following areas of operation: • • • • • Project management Purchasing and expenditure Payroll Review of Information Technology (IT) Marine Park Management – Field Management Compliance Unit. Commonwealth Ombudsman No formal reports were issued. The GBRMPA received one notification of investigation of a complaint made to the Ombudsman under section 8 of the Ombudsman Act 1976. The complaint related to an alleged overpayment to the GBRMPA of an amount of Environmental Management Charge and a failure by the GBRMPA to repay the amount of alleged overpayment. Following the GBRMPA furnishing all requested information to the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman advised that no further investigation was warranted. 90 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES Overview A staffing overview table is provided in Appendix B. People Management The People Management Section provides a range of payroll, recruitment and occupational health and safety services to employees as well as providing strategic advice to line managers on topical human resource, industrial relations, staff supervision and management issues. People Management operates in harmony with line areas to meet business objectives as outlined in annual operating plans. Regular advice is provided to managers and supervisors regarding construction and application of employee performance agreements. People Management also has a compliance role in terms of implementation of workplace relations legislation and standards. During 2010-11, the GBRMPA’s major achievements in people management included: • Streamlining of some recruitment practices and templates to enable speedier processing of recruitment selections as well as making business cases for recruitment more transparent and accountable. Introduction of a revised induction manual for new employees, with emphasis on use of Employee Self Service facilities. Strengthened front-end recruitment checks and balances regarding fit and proper person requirements, including the need to produce evidence of stated qualifications. Improved the guidance information for employees regarding the use and application of performance management arrangements. The template for annual performance appraisal was also modified to enable a more balanced assessment of technical outputs and outcomes as well as behavioural and ethical performance. In addition, a process of second level moderation was introduced to facilitate equity of appraisal ratings across the Authority. • • • Enterprise agreements The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Enterprise Agreement 2009-2011 nominally expired on 30 June 2011. Negotiations for a replacement agreement commenced following dissemination of the revised Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework in January 2011. A series of negotiation meetings occurred and broad agreement was reached on an in-principle range of core agreement inclusions. This round of agreement negotiations saw the participation of employee bargaining representatives as well as representatives from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). The new agreement will have an expiry date of June 2014, which will align with whole of Australian Public Service arrangements. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 91 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Consistent with Government policy, all non Senior Executive Service (SES) employees will be covered by the enterprise agreement. The current agreement provides salaries to cover classifications ranging from an APS 1 $45,456 (highest pay point) to Executive Level 2 $121,532 (highest pay point). At 30 June 2011 all Senior Executive Service (SES) employees were renumerated by way of section 24(1) determinations under the Public Service Act 1999. No performance pay was made to any employee. The average salary for employees covered by a section 24(1) determination was $163,339. Training and staff development The GBRMPA expended a total of $162,570 on learning and development and study assistance in 2010-11. This included the costs of specific training courses, diplomas and certificates, software licences, equipment, fee reimbursements, professional memberships and all associated travel and accommodation costs. A combination of external providers and in-house subject specialists were used to deliver a range of mandatory corporate training and area specific specialised training. Corporate training included project management and elimination of workplace bullying and harassment. Refresher training was provided to workplace harassment contact officers. Specialised training included oil spill response, first aid, dive and resuscitation. Individual employee learning and development opportunities continued to be identified through the staff capability portion of annual employee performance agreements. The GBRMPA continues to support employees' professional development with time off for face-toface contact study and reimbursement of professional fees upon completion of semester study. Occupational health and safety The GBRMPA working environment is a combination of an office environment with a high level of external field work including boat patrols, diving surveys, underwater construction, engineering and water quality management. Over 2010-11, GBRMPA employees lodged three incident reports. three claims for compensation were accepted by Comcare. The GBRMPA Occupation Health and Safety system ensured staff had the opportunity to gain First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Oxygen provision and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) training and nationally recognised certification specific to their position. Ongoing training of dive supervisors, refreshing diver rescue skills, training and certification for specified plant use and Remote Area First Aid Training for Field Officers have all contributed to low incident rates. Employees were provided with free influenza vaccinations and workstation assessments by occupational therapists, and the provision of specified ergonomic equipment and furniture. 92 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Workplace diversity Workplace diversity data for the GBRMPA’s employees is provided in Appendix B. The GBRMPA’s Workplace Diversity Program seeks to ensure: • Annual operating plans (section) and longer term strategic plans (corporate) acknowledge the diverse backgrounds of employees and their current and potential contribution to the agency Workplace arrangements assist employees in balancing their work, family, caring and lifestyle responsibilities and preferences Merit and equity in employment is promoted and upheld The APS Values remain central to the Authority's culture. • • • Sea country connections traineeship An aim of the Reef Rescue Indigenous Land and Sea Country Partnerships program is to strengthen communication between local communities, managers and Reef stakeholders and build better understanding of Traditional Owner issues about the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Sea Country Connections Traineeship Program is part of Reef HQ Aquarium's annual operating plan, with one trainee undertaking the trial pilot program in 2010-11. Providing access for people with disabilities The GBRMPA provides fair and equitable employment opportunities for all members of the community and has developed a disability action plan in line with the Australian Government Disability Strategy. The Commonwealth Disability Strategy recognises the Australian Government has an impact on the lives of people with disabilities. The GBRMPA has a disability action plan which outlines reporting requirements identified in the strategy. The GBRMPA performs the roles of policy adviser, provider, regulator and employer. The GBRMPA provides employment opportunities for all members of the community in accordance with the merit principle. The GBRMPA’s recruitment selection guidelines comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Recruitment information for potential job applicants is made available in various ways depending on the needs of the individual. Recruitment opportunities advertised in APS Jobs (Australian Public Service Gazette) and the press are accessible through the GBRMPA website. In terms of office access and accommodation, the principle of reasonable adjustment is applied. Ergonomic assessments are conducted and equipment purchased and provided to suit the needs of the individual. The main building, Field Management office, Reef HQ, the conference room and meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 93 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The 2010-11 workplace diversity data identifies 3.2 per cent of employees as having some form of disability. The actual number of employees with disabilities is potentially higher due to the voluntary nature of disclosure. The GBRMPA has networks of harassment and diversity contact officers, and appropriate policies and mechanisms are in place should staff have concerns or issues needing to be addressed and resolved. GBRMPA employees also have access to an employee assistance program to discuss issues and concerns. Since 1994, Commonwealth departments and agencies have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007-08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission's State of the Service Report and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010-11, departments and agencies are no longer required to report on these functions. The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been overtaken by a new National Disability Strategy which sets out a ten year national policy framework for improving life for Australians with disability, their families and carers. A high level report to track progress for people with disability at a national level will be produced for people with disability at a national level will be produced by the Standing Council on Community. Housing and Disability Services to the Council of Australian Governments and will be available at www.fahcsia.gov.au. The Social Inclusion Measurement and Reporting Strategy agreed by the Government in December 2009 will also include some reporting on disability matters in its regular How Australia is Faring report and, if appropriate, in strategic change indicators in agency Annual Report. More detail on social inclusion matters can be found at www.socialinclusion.gov.au. ASSETS MANAGEMENT There are four significant components of the GBRMPA's asset management: • • • • Reef HQ Aquarium Commonwealth islands Office fit-out Information and communications technology (ICT). A capital investment plan for Reef HQ Aquarium spanning the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years was developed in 2010-11. The investment plan outlines the implementation of $4m in capital funding provided for Reef HQ Aquarium. The primary focus of capital investment during 2010-11 was to upgrade/renew critical supporting infrastructure to meet current Australian Standards and to upgrade aquarium life support systems. There were 19 capital works projects scheduled for completion in 2010-11 with a combined value of $1.8m. All projects were completed according to the implementation schedule and were delivered on time and within budget. This capital investment will deliver to the Australian Government a facility which has building 94 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 infrastructure that meets current Australian Standards; is operationally efficient; and demonstrates world's best practice in reef education, aquarium life support systems and animal husbandry. The GBRMPA has also initiated asset management plans for office fit-out, ICT and major equipment and purchases. PURCHASING Delegations The Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and the Financial Management and Accountability Regulations 1997 confer powers and functions of the chief executives that may be delegated. The Chief Executive has, in writing, delegated certain powers and functions to officials. The delegate does not have the power to sub-delegate, without a specific provision in legislation. Chief Executive's Instructions Chief Executive's Instructions are the primary mechanism for a Chief Executive to set out the processes to promote the proper use of Commonwealth resources, including public money and property by officials in his or her agency. The GBRMPA's Chief Executive Instructions comply with requirements of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and ensure compliance with Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTS Annual Reports contain information about actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies. Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website www.tenders.gov.au. Consultancies During 2010-11, 67 new consultancy contracts were entered into involving total actual expenditure of $3,802,135. In addition, 23 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during the 2010-11 year, involving total actual expenditure of $1,079,413. Details of consultancy services used by the GBRMPA in 2010-11 are listed in Appendix C. Competitive tendering and contracting In accordance with the GBRMPA's purchasing guidelines and depending on the estimated values of the tender, the selection and engagement of consultants may involve public tender, select tender, or where appropriate, direct engagement of a recognised and pre-eminent expert. Consultants are engaged when specialist expertise is not available within the GBRMPA or where an independent assessment is considered desirable. M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y 95 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Exempt contracts During 2010-11 no contract was exempted by the CEO from publication in AusTender. Access by Auditor-General All contracts provided for the Auditor-General to have access to the contractor's premises. GRANT PROGRAMS Information on grants awarded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority during the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 is available at www.gbrmpa.gov.au. 96 M A N A G E M E N T A N D A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 97 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 98 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 99 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 100 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 101 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 102 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 103 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 104 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 105 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 106 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 107 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 108 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 109 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 110 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 111 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 112 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 113 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 114 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 115 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 116 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 117 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 118 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 119 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 120 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 121 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 122 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 123 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 124 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 125 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 126 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 127 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 128 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 129 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 130 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 131 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 132 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 133 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 134 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 135 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 136 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 137 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 138 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 139 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 140 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 141 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 142 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 143 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 144 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 145 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 146 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 147 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 148 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 149 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 150 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 151 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 152 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 153 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 154 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 FINANCES 155 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 156 FINANCES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 157 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX A – AGENCY RESOURCE STATEMENT Table 12a: GBRMPA Resource Statement 2010-11 Actual available appropriation for 2010-11 $'000 A Ordinary Annual Services1 Departmental appropriation2 Total Administered expenses Outcome 13 Total Total ordinary annual services Other services 4 Payments made 2010-11 $'000 B Balance remaining 2010-11 $'000 A-B 39,017 39,017 31,694 31,694 7,323 7,323 1,188 1,188 A 40,205 1,010 1,010 32,704 Departmental non-operating Equity injections Total Total other services Total Available Annual Appropriations and payments Special appropriations Special appropriations limited by criteria/entitlement Special Appropriation Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act Total special appropriations Special Accounts5 Opening balance Appropriation receipts6 Non-appropriation receipts to Special Accounts Payments made Total Special Account D 16,630 8,421 8,209 16,630 16,630 0 C 7,304 7,304 42,251 34,167 B 2,046 2,046 2,046 1,463 1,463 1,463 583 583 158 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Actual available appropriation for 2010-11 $'000 A Total resourcing A+B+C+D Less appropriations drawn from annual or special appropriations above and credited to special accounts and credited to special accounts Total net resourcing for GBRMPA 1 Payments made 2010-11 $'000 B Balance remaining 2010-11 $'000 A-B 58,881 8,421 58,101 8,421 50,460 49,680 Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2010-11. This may also include Prior Year departmental appropriation and S.31 relevant agency receipts. Includes an amount of $1.1m in 2010-11 for the Departmental Capital Budget. For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’. Includes an amount of $0m in 2010-11 for the Administered Capital Budget. For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’. Appropriation Bill (No.2) 2010-11 2 3 4 5 Does not include ‘Special Public Money’ held in accounts like Other Trust Monies accounts (OTM). Services for other Government and Non-agency Bodies accounts (SOG), or Services for Other Entities and Trust Moneys Special accounts (SOETM). 6 Appropriation receipts from GBRMPA annual and special appropriations for 2010-11included above 159 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Table 12b: Expenses and Resources for Outcome 1 Outcome 1: (The long term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community, through the care and development of the Marine Park) Budget* Actual available appropriation for 2010-11 $'000 A Program 1.1: (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) Administered expenses: Ordinary Annual Services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) Departmental expenses: Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) Revenues from independent sources (Section 31) Special appropriations Special Accounts Expenses not requiring appropriation in the Budget year Total for Program 1.1 Total expenses for Outcome 1 22,796 8,390 7,500 8,208 1,250 49,332 49,332 22,808 8,177 7,304 8,209 1,494 49,002 49,002 (12) 213 196 (1) (244) 330 330 1,188 1,010 178 Actual Payments made 2010-11 $'000 B Variation Balance remaining 2010-11 $'000 A-B 2009-10 Average Staffing Level (number) 219 2010-11 216 * Full year budget, including any subsequent adjustment made to the 2010-11 Budget. 160 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX B: STAFFING OVERVIEW Table 13: Employee overview as at 30 June 2011 Classification ONGOING EMPLOYEES Female F/T APS1 APS2 APS3 APS4 APS5 APS6 EXEC1 EXEC2 SES1 CEO TOTAL 1 13 9 13 17 13 15 4 1 0 86 P/T 0 3 2 3 0 4 1 0 0 0 13 Male F/T 1 4 2 8 1 19 17 11 3 0 66 P/T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 20 13 24 18 36 33 16 4 0 166 Total NON-ONGOING EMPLOYEES Female F/T 0 3 2 9 4 9 2 1 0 0 30 P/T 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 4 Male F/T 0 2 1 0 2 9 1 0 0 1 16 P/T 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 7 3 9 9 19 4 1 0 1 53 Total As at 30 June 2011 the total number of employees = 219 Table 14: Workplace diversity figures as at 30 June 2011 Classification CEO APS1 APS2 APS3 APS4 APS5 APS6 EL1 EL2 SES1 TOTAL Total 1 2 27 16 33 27 55 37 17 4 219 Women 0 (0%) 1 (50%) 20 (74%) 13 (81%) 25 (75.8%) 22 (81.5%) 27 (49%) 19 (51.3%) 5 (29.4%) 1 (25%) 133 (60.7%) ATSI 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (7.4%) 1 (6.2%) 0 (0%) 1 (3.7%) 5 (9%) 1 (2.7%) 1 (5.9%) 0 (0%) 11 (5%) NESB 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 4 (14.8%) 1 (6.2%) 2 (6%) 5 (18.5%) 7 (12.7%) 4 (10.8%) 2 (11.8%) 0 (0%) NESB1 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 4 (14.8%) 0 (0%) 4 (12%) 5 (18.5%) 7 (12.7%) 4 (10.8%) 2 (11.8%) 0 (0%) NESB2 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 5 (18.5%) 0 (0%) 4 (12%) 4 (14.8%) 7 (12.7%) 2 (5.4%) 1 (5.9%) 0 (0%) PWD 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 3 (9%) 0 (0%) 2 (3.6%) 2 (5.4%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 25 (11.4%) 26 (11.8%) 23 (10.5%) 7 (3.2%) ATSI (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander) NESB (Non-English Speaking Background) NESB1 (Non-English Speaking Background, second generation (Mother)) NESB2 (Non-English Speaking Background, second generation (Father)) PWD (People with a disability) APPENDICES 161 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX C: CONSULTANCY SERVICES Table 15: Consultancy services let during 2010-11 of $10,000 (ex GST) or more Consultant Name ASIA PACIFIC APPLIED SCIENCE ASSOCATES AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE AUSTRALIAN VALUATION OFFICE BALKANU CAPE YORK DEVELOPMENT CORP BALKANU CAPE YORK DEVELOPMENT CORP CLEAR HORIZON CONSULTING PTY LTD COLMAR BRUNTON SOCIAL RESEARCH COX INALL COMMUNICATIONS Description Modelling of impact oil samples Contract Price 12,760.00 Selection Process1 Direct Sourcing Justification2 B Bleaching threshold - Long term monitoring program Reef Rescue Monitoring Program 2010/11 Development and provision of weekly salinity exposure maps for a subset of the 2010/11 wet season Valuation of GBRMPA fixed assets for 2009-10 Kuuku Ya'u People marine Park Indigenous Land Use Agreement 25,000.00 Direct Sourcing C 1,169,339.60 Direct Sourcing B 19,000.00 Direct Sourcing B 23,210.00 Direct Sourcing B 91,100.00 Direct Sourcing B Umpila Kawadji TUMRA agreement 40,320.00 Direct Sourcing B MERI plan evaluation and analysis workshop Market research - community perceptions of climate change 14,802.00 Direct Sourcing B 59,279 Direct Sourcing Develop an overarching communication strategy and campaign for the GBRMPA and addressing the key risks identified in the Outlook report Reef rescue marine monitoring program 2010/11 Rapid Assessment of Great Barrier Reef Commercial fishing & tourism sectors affected by floods and cyclones during 2010/11 Integrative maps for Raine Island 27,016 Direct Sourcing B CSIRO LAND & WATER CSIRO LAND & WATER 145,811.60 50,000.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing C B DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 15,000.00 Direct Sourcing 162 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Consultant Name DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DR DAVID SCHELTINGA ESRI AUSTRALIA PTY LTD FISHERIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORP FITZROY BASIN ASSOCIATION INC GHD GIDARJIL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY HELGA SCOTT Description StrandNet database Phase 2 Enhancements Contract Price 17,200.00 Selection Process1 Direct Sourcing Justification2 B Conduct a Review of the Coastal Bird Monitoring Strategy 32,500 Direct Sourcing B Education package – Island hitchhikers and biosecurity 17,700 Direct Sourcing 17,700 Service Agreement 11,000.00 Direct Sourcing B Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program 2010/11 274,453.30 Direct Sourcing C Extreme Weather incident response program 14,935.80 Direct Sourcing B Develop of climate change conceptual models to compliment wetland stressor models ArcGIS server upgrade Tactical Research Fund 30,000.00 Direct Sourcing B 12,548.80 11,000 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B Capricornia Reef Resilience and Stewardship program - snapshot Science Communication and content writing services Port Curtis Coral Coast Regional TUMRA 2011-2016 development project Facilitation of Marine Adaptation workshop at Greenhouse 2011 Provision of professional writing services to update the Reef Guardian School Resources Fishing Industry Emissions Calculator 49,500.00 Direct Sourcing B 14,580.50 50,000.00 Open Direct Sourcing B B 22,000.00 22,481.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B INTERLATED PTY LTD 13,310.00 Direct Sourcing B APPENDICES 163 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Consultant Name INTERLATED PTY LTD JABALBINA YALANJI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY Description Update the online GBRMPA tourism operator's emissions calculator Eastern Kuku Yalanji Tumra 2011 Contract Price 21,263.00 55,000.00 Selection Process1 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Justification2 B B Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring Program 2010/11 Dugong and green turtle foraging impact study Pilot coral trout catchability study to develop methods to apply and utilise in the commercial coral reef finfish fishery Extreme weather incident response program Science communications and content writing services Compliance products and workshop 326,040.00 142,745.00 13,000.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B C C JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY JEFF MAYNARD KPS & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD MA: MU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS (QLD) PTY LTD T/AS 112,981.00 21,700.00 34,018.76 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B B Mamu TUMRA project 2011 60,000.00 Direct Sourcing B Development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Tourism Climate Incident Response Plan incorporating a review of the Marine Tourism Contingency Plan Evaluate the thermal stress thresholds at AIMS long term monitoring program sites Development of Reef Health Incident management framework & 2010 response plans Expert workshop & ecological risk assessment of East Coast Trawl Fishery in GBR Expert advice on environmental management Climate change and fishing industry liaison 59,986.30 Direct Sourcing B MAYNARD MARINE CONSULTING INC MAYNARD MARINE CONSULTING INC MORISON AQUATICS SCIENCES PXA PTY LTD QUEENSLAND SEAFOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION QUEENSLAND SEAFOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION 19,690.00 Direct Sourcing C 26,400.00 Direct Sourcing C 52,360.00 Direct Sourcing C 22,000.00 84,000.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B C Climate change and fishing industry liaison 60,000.00 Direct Sourcing C 164 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Consultant Name QUICKSILVER CONNECTIONS LIMITED REEF & RAINFOREST RESEARCH CENTRE RPS AUSTRALIA RUSSELL KELLY SQUIZ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD SQUIZ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD SQUIZ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD STRATSEC.NET PTY LTD THINK SPATIAL Description Southern expansion of EOR Program May 2011 2010 Inshore coral reef monitoring Contract Price 30,384.00 Selection Process1 Direct Sourcing Justification2 B 346,534.00 Direct Sourcing C Review regulatory approaches to managing climate change Development of online Integrated Eye on the Reef Training program GBRMPA external website redevelopment GBRMPA external website design & functional implementation Reef HQ website design & functional implementation Provision of Gateway Security Documentation Development Developing mapping component of Integrated Eye on the Reef system & enhanced Reef Health Monitoring KML IEoR system change order 2 Phase 2 Integrated Eye on the Reef database Developing mobile phone application platforms, and photography and video capability of the Integrated Eye on the Reef system Maintenance of the Integrated Eye on the Reef Information System of the GBRMPA server Underwater visual census surveys to assess fish abundance and coral structure on previously surveyed reefs - port cyclones Anthony and Yasi Development of population model for northern great barrier reef green turtle stock Reef rescue marine monitoring program 2010/11 Adaptive capacity in the Keppel Region: an analysis of stewardship potential 19,870.00 71,500 50,623.10 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B B 54,538.00 Direct Sourcing B 43,972.50 Direct Sourcing B 37,400.00 15,620 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B THINK SPATIAL THINK SPATIAL THINK SPATIAL 10,000 97,306 40,168 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B B THINK SPATIAL 11,950 Direct Sourcing B TONY AYLING 57,090.00 Direct Sourcing B UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST 49,985.00 Direct Sourcing B 248,347.00 22,000.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing C 165 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Consultant Name UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA WOPPABURRA LAND TRUST WWF YINTJINGGA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION YUKU BAJA MULIKU LANDOWNER AND RESERVES TOTAL Description Provision of knowledge audit services Contract Price 44,848.00 Selection Process1 Direct Sourcing Justification2 B Dharumbal Tumra Woppaburra section implementation project 2011 Saltwater people managing Gunga in their Sea Country Lama Lama Tumra 30,000.00 55,000 40,000.00 Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing Direct Sourcing B B B Yuku Baja Muliku TUMRA development project 2011 33,000.00 Direct Sourcing B 4,807,167.26 During 2010-11 the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority conducted advertising campaigns. Reef HQ Aquarium carried out promotional campaigns to attract visitors and promote special events at specific times of the year. The GBRMPA promoted the need to adhere to zoning rules through advertising prior to school holiday periods during 2010-11. Reef Guardian Farmers, Fishers, Schools and Councils featured in a major advertising campaign run by the GBRMPA in 2010-11, to raise awareness about the threats to the Great Barrier Reef and what is being done to address them. The GBRMPA procured the services of Colmar Brunton Social Research to undertake market research to ascertain the level of community understanding of climate change and its impact on the Great Barrier Reef. Table 16: Media advertising and market research organisations used in 2010-11 Advertising Campaign Improving the Outlook, Universal McCann Zoning education, Universal McCann Reef HQ marketing, Universal McCann Indigenous Grants Program, Adcorp Australia Creative agencies Digital Dimensions Digi Men Get Branded Market research Colmar Brunton Amount $72,971.14 $39,324.11 $24,269.59 $11,157.07 Amount $27,145.40 $9,010.00 $13,379.00 Amount $59,279.00 166 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX D: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) provides the community with the right of access to documents held by Australian Government agencies. This right of access is limited only by certain exceptions and exemptions which are contained in the FOI Act. Under the FOI Act to request access to information, an application must be: 1. 2. 3. 4. Made in writing State that the request is an application for the purposes of the FOI Act Provide enough information about the document(s) for a responsible officer of the GBRMPA to identify it Provide an address in Australia at which notices under the FOI Act may be sent to the applicant. FOI requests should be sent to The FOI Contact Officer c/- Legal Services Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 2-68 Flinders Street PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 Australia Or lodged via email to FOI@gbrmpa.gov.au Freedom of Information requests can also be delivered to the GBRMPA's Townsville office at 2-68 Flinders Street, Townsville QLD 4810. If the applicant decides to proceed with a request, charges may also be payable in relation to the time spent searching for and retrieving relevant documents, decision-making time, photocopying and postage, etc. In the event that the GBRMPA decides that an applicant is liable to pay a charge in respect of processing a request, the applicant would be notified of the preliminary assessment of the charge and have the opportunity to contend that the charge should not be imposed, or should be reduced. If any difficulty arises in identifying a document or in providing access in the form requested, an officer of the GBRMPA will contact the applicant with a view to resolving the difficulty. In consultation with the applicant, documents will be made available by mail to the address specified by the applicant or at the official freedom of information access point. APPENDICES 167 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The authorised decision makers under the FOI Act for the GBRMPA are: Chairman, General Managers, Director Legal Services, Senior Legal Officers Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority PO Box 1379 TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 Australia Freedom of information operations During the 2010-11 financial year, the GBRMPA received three requests for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Of those three applications, one application has been processed, one has been withdrawn and one is being processed at present. One application for internal review of a decision made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 was received during 2010-11. The decision related to the imposition of charges. No applications to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of decisions made under the FOI Act were received during 2010-11. No applications to amend records under the FOI Act were received during 2010-11. A total of $887.31 was received in respect of charges under the FOI Act during 2010-11. Section 8 of the FOI Act – Before 1 May 2011 Prior to 1 May 2011, section 8 of the FOI Act required the GBRMPA to make available information that includes particulars of the following: Information about the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Information about the organisation, functions and decision making powers of the GBRMPA are contained elsewhere in this report. Information about categories of documents Under section 8 of the FOI Act the GBRMPA must report details of certain categories of documents it maintains. The agency holds a large number of documents in the following categories: General policy – administrative files, consultants' reports, memoranda of understanding, agreements, deeds, permit application documentation, permits, authorisations, Environmental Management Charge (EMC) charging returns, submissions, guidelines for programs, grant documents, financial records, staffing records, legal documents, and tender evaluations. Specific – Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority meeting papers and minutes and court and Tribunal documents and records, spatial layer data and maps. Parliamentary – Briefing documents, Cabinet documents, ministerial briefings, policy advice, Ministerial correspondence, explanatory memoranda for Acts, Regulations and Plans of Management. 168 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Manuals and guidelines – in accordance with section 9 of the FOI Act, the GBRMPA maintains a list of unpublished manuals and other documents used by agency staff as a guide to procedures and practices to be followed when dealing with the public. The list is correct as at 12 August 2009 and is available on request from the GBRMPA's Freedom of Information Officer, any office of the National Archives of Australia (NAA), or the NAA website at www.naa.gov.au. Some documents may have been transferred into archival custody or destroyed in accordance with the Archives Act 1983. Arrangements for outside participation Under section 8 of the FOI Act the GBRMPA must report details of arrangements under which members of the public can participate in certain kinds of decision making. The GBRMPA consults members of the public and bodies outside the Australian Government's administration when developing policy and programs, and administering legislation and schemes. In addition to general public consultation, which may be a requirement of particular legislation, the agency receives advice from various scientific and expert committees and other bodies. Examples of individuals and bodies which the Authority regularly consults include Reef Advisory Committees (RACs), Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs), Indigenous land councils, Traditional Owner groups, commercial fisheries groups, tourism bodies and various research institutions. The GBRMPA has also established regional offices in communities along the Great Barrier Reef to develop better linkages with, and greater understanding of, Great Barrier Reef coastal communities and enhance local involvement in decision making, compliance and stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef. The GBRMPA has dedicated liaison staff based in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton. Generally people can participate by making oral or written representations to the GBRMPA, becoming involved in RACs and LMACs, or by putting submissions to the various working groups chaired by the Authority. Formal arrangements under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 provide for proposals relating to zoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, developing plans of management, and assessing applications for permissions to use or enter the Marine Park, to be examined publicly and for comments to be received. Section 8 of the FOI Act – After 1 May 2011 — Information Publication Scheme Amendments to section 8 of the FOI Act which took effect on 1 May 2011 require that certain information about the GBRMPA is required to be published. Since 1 May 2011, that information is available on the GBRMPA's website www.gbrmpa.gov.au/home/ips. APPENDICES 169 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX E: ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) requires Australian Government organisations to report on the organisation’s contribution to ecologically sustainable development as well as the environmental performance of the organisation. Section 516A also promotes development of a framework that integrates environmental, economic and social considerations and helps improve the environmental and ecologically sustainable development performance of Australian Government agencies. The following is a summary of activities by the GBRMPA in 2010-11 in accordance with section 516A of the EPBC Act. 1. How the activities of the organisation and the administration of legislation by the organisation accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (section 516A(6)(a)) The following activities of the GBRMPA accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development: • • Administering and enforcing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Act 1975, which explicitly recognises these principles Working with the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, other agencies and stakeholders to promote ecologically sustainable development focused on: - Ensuring the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the control, care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - Providing policy advice to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to ensure GBRMPA's environment policies are mutually supportive. The range of activities presented in the Performance Chapter of this Annual Report include activities that accord with the principle of integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations. In addition the day-to-day business of the GBRMPA in ensuring the long-term sustainability of biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef by managing the Zoning Plan introduced on 1 July 2004, in consultation with stakeholders, communities and agencies. The following activities accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, especially by employing or promoting the use of the precautionary principle: • • • Making decisions under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 Release of publications on climate change and the Great Barrier Reef Information readily available on the GBRMPA external website. 170 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 The following activities accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development by aiming to promote conservation of the environment for the benefit of future generations: • Contributing to the conservation of biodiversity, including: - The development of the Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy which specifically responds to the threats to biodiversity as outlined in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 - A focus on encouraging integrated coastal management and improving knowledge on the role that coastal ecosystems play in the health of the Great Barrier Reef - Continuing to address the remaining impacts of fishing and illegal fishing and poaching - Improving information on the quality and extent of the Great Barrier Reef’s water quality - Continued implementation of the Marine Monitoring Program — a component of the Paddock to Reef Program. • • Contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in marine ecosystems including through continued implementation of the Representative Areas Program Protecting the World Heritage values of Australia's Great Barrier Reef through: - Regulation, including the consideration of proposed actions predominantly in, or adjacent to, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland - Communication and education, including the active promotion of the World Heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef. • Working in partnership with stakeholder groups, including: - The expansion of the Reef Guardians Program Expanding the Reef Guardian Councils Program to encourage councils to get involved in environmental projects - Working with Traditional Owners to develop sustainable traditional use of marine resources practices - Operating various advisory groups to assist in the management of particular issues in Marine Park locations and operational programs. The following activities accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development by aiming to improve valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms: • Implementing an accreditation program for tourism operators APPENDICES 171 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • Working in partnership with Great Barrier Reef businesses and industry to improve valuation by industry to include environmental and social costs and benefits activities in 2010-11 included: - having an accounting framework to measure the commercial values of the Great Barrier Reef - continuing the partnership with industry associations through community monitoring programs. 2. How the outcomes specified in a relevant Appropriations Act contribute to ecologically sustainable development (section 516A(6)(b)) The outcome for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is: The long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community, through the care and development of the Marine Park. This outcome is explicit in providing for ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park. The outcome is achieved through the delivery of three objectives; 1: Address the key risks to the Great Barrier Reef, 2: Ensure management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the Marine Park and 3: Maintain a high performing, effective and efficient organisation. A comprehensive assessment of how work was undertaken under these three objectives during 2010-11 is provided in the Performance Chapter of this Annual Report. 3. Effect of the organisation's activities on the environment (section 516A(6)(c)) The GBRMPA is responsible for managing one of the world's premier natural resources through the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park). The GBRMPA manages the Marine Park as a multiple-use area, and permits such uses as are ecologically sustainable, and as are permitted by legislation. In conjunction with its agency partners, the GBRMPA maintained compliance and enforcement activities during 2010-11, with funding being provided by both Australian and Queensland governments for field management. 4. Measures being taken by the organisation to minimise the impact of its activities on the environment (section 516A(6)(d)) The GBRMPA maintains a strong commitment to continuous improvement of its own environmental performance. The GBRMPA conducts environmental audits of its operations to maximise efficient use of resources, reduction of waste, and building of environmental awareness among its employees and volunteers. Activities undertaken in the last year include: • Continued implementation of the Environmental Management System (EMS) 172 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 • • • • Continued implementation of an improved waste handling system to reduce the volume of recycling going to landfill Automation of office lighting system in the main Townsville building to reduce energy consumption Ecotourism Australia certified Reef HQ Aquarium under their Advanced Eco Tourism, Climate Action Business and Respecting our Culture certification Reef HQ Aquarium continued implementation of three stages of energy reduction including installation of energy efficient lighting, addressing peak demand reduction and investing in renewable energy Building materials used in Reef HQ exhibits chosen from environmentally sustainable products Operating a Green Office Committee to raise awareness of environmental management within the office Use of four Hybrid Energy vehicles for fleet use Use of ethanol inclusive fuels in vehicles (E10) Pest control undertaken using methods designed to minimise environmental impacts Office machines (photocopiers, printers) are automatically programmed to save power Printers programmed to duplex (double-side) documents to reduce paper usage Printer toner cartridges are remanufactured and photocopier toner cartridges sent for recycling Staff are actively involved in recycling office paper, with paper and cardboard collected by a local recycling company Packaging and envelopes are recycled Corporate publications are printed on recycled paper if feasible Wherever possible documents are provided electronically to reduce paper usage Recycled paper is used in toilets (toilet paper and hand towels) Toilets are dual flush as a water conservation measure Collection of fluorescent tubes for recycling Disused desk top and mobile phones are sent for recycling Used paper hand towel is put in with cardboard recycling Vehicle leasing decisions take into account Australian Greenhouse Office specifications on fuel consumption targets. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • APPENDICES 173 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 5. Mechanisms for reviewing and increasing the effectiveness of these measures (section 516A(6)(e)) In accordance with the Government policy Energy Efficiency in Government Operations the GBRMPA reports its annual energy performance through the online Energy Data Gathering and Reporting (EDGAR) system. Public reporting provides a number of benefits to the GBRMPA including: • • • • • • Increased awareness of energy and greenhouse issues Measures relative performance Provides a benchmarking tool Tracks changes over time Identifies high-intensity areas Encourages improvement through transparency. Close analysis of the report helps the GBRMPA determine how it can most effectively adopt the minimum energy performance measures to meet its needs and the Government’s targets. In considering future office accommodation lease arrangements the GBRMPA is taking into account the need to include a Green Lease Schedule to improve and be accountable for energy efficiency in the premises and building for any new leases over 2000 square metres or major refurbishment. The EMS provides the foundation for managing the significant environmental aspects and compliance with legal and other requirements, and is a mechanism for continuous improvement in environmental performance. The Green House Gas Reduction Strategy is based on the GBRMPA’s acknowledgment that climate change is a major threat to the long-term resilience of the Reef and its commitment to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint. The EMS and Green House Gas Reduction Strategy focused on the GBRMPA’s business practices, including alterations to: • • • • • • • Waste disposal Building operations Business processes Employee practices Air conditioning Travel Chemical use. 174 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX F: PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS BY GBRMPA STAFF The following staff papers were either published or presented by GBRMPA staff during 2010-11. Copies may be obtained from Library and Image Services, or by accessing the Staff Papers Database at http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/. Published Papers Anthony, K.R.N., Maynard, J.A., Diaz-Pulido, G., Mumby, P.J., Marshall, P.A., Cao, L., HoeghGuldberg, O. 2011, Ocean acidification and warming will lower coral reef resilience, Global Change Biology 17: 1798-1808. Bainbridge, Z., Dight, I., Yorkston, H., Lewis, S., Brodie, J. 2011, Catchment management in a dry tropical river near the Great Barrier Reef, in Catchment management and coral reef conservation: a practical guide for coastal resource managers to reduce damage from catchment areas based on best practice case studies, eds C. Wilkinson and J. Brodie, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, pp. 96-97. Bohensky, E., Butler, J.R.A., Costanza, R., Bohnet, I., Delisle, A., Fabricius, K., Gooch, M., Kubiszewski, I., Lukacs, G., Pert, P., Wolanski, E. 2011, Future makers or future takers? A scenario analysis of climate change and ecosystem services for the Great Barrier Reef, Global Environmental Change 21(3): 876-893. Ceccarelli, D., Jones, G.P., McCook, L.J. 2011, Interactions between herbivorous fish guilds and their influence on algal succession on a coastal coral reef, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 399: 60-67. Costanza, R., Bohensky, E., Butler, J.R.A., Bohnet, I., Delisle, A., Fabricius, K., Gooch, M., Kubiszewski, I., Lukacs, G., Pert, P., Wolanski, E. (in press), A scenario analysis of climate change and ecosystem services for the Great Barrier Reef, in Ecological economics of estuaries and coasts, eds M. van den Belt and R. Constanza, (Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science series eds E. Wolanski and D. McLusky, vol. 12), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 22 pp. Davies, S. 2010, International engagement provides a PD opportunity for regional professionals, Incite 31(12): 11. Day, J.C. 2010, Zoning within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Australia), in Ocean zoning: making marine management more effective, ed. Tundi Agardy, Earthscan, London, pp. 59-74. Day, J.C. 2011, Conservation and marine protected areas, in Encyclopedia of modern coral reefs: structure, form and process, ed. D. Hopley, Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp.230-236. Day, J.C. 2011, Protecting Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Solutions 1(7): 56-66. Day, J.C. 2011, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - governance analysis, in Governing marine protected areas: getting the balance right, volume 2, eds P.J.S. Jones, W.Qiu and E.M. De Santo, Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Branch, UNEP, Nairobi, pp. 1-18. Dobbs, K. 2010, Hawksbill sex ratios, incubation and pivotal temperatures from Milman Island, Australia, Marine Turtle Newsletter 128: 12-16. APPENDICES 175 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Dobbs, K., Day, J., Skeat, H., Baldwin, J., Molloy, F., McCook, L., Johnson, M., Elliot, B., Skeat, A., Vohland, K., Wachenfeld, D., Kenchington, R. 2011, Developing a long-term outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: a framework for adaptive management reporting underpinning an ecosystembased management approach, Marine Policy 35: 233-240. Fabricius, K., Brodie, J., Waterhouse, J., Yorkston, H. 2011, Science-based catchment management is evolving along the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, in Catchment management and coral reef conservation: a practical guide for coastal resource managers to reduce damage from catchment areas based on best practice case studies, eds C. Wilkinson and J. Brodie, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville, pp. 102-105. Foster, T., Corcoran, E., Erftemeijer, P., Fletcher, C., Peirs, K., Dolmans, C., Smith, A., Yamamoto, H. 2010, Dredging and port construction around coral reefs, PIANC (World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure), Brussels. Gooch, M., Rigano, D. 2010, Enhancing community-scale social resilience: what is the connection between healthy communities and healthy waterways, Australian Geographer 41(4): 507-520. Kenchington, R.A., Day J.C. 2011, Zoning, a fundamental cornerstone of effective marine spatial planning: lessons learnt from the Great Barrier Reef, Journal of Coastal Conservation 15(2): 271-278. Maynard, J.A., Marshall, P.A., Johnson, J.E., Harman, S. 2010, Building resilience into practical conservation: identifying local management responses to global climate change in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Coral Reefs 29: 381-391. McCook, L. 2010, Getting the public to understand the 'learning as we do it', Marine Ecosystems and Management 4(3): 1-2. McCook, L.J., Ayling, T., Cappo, M., Choat, J.H., Evans, R.D., De Freitas, D.M., Heupel, M., Hughes, T.P., Jones, G.P., Mapstone, B., Marsh, H., Mills, M., Molloy, F.J., Pitcher, C.R., Pressey, R.L., Russ, G.R., Sutton, S., Sweatman, H., Tobin, R., Wachenfeld, D.R., Williamson, D.H. 2010, Adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef: a globally significant demonstration of the benefits of networks of marine reserves, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(43): 1827818285. Roff, J., Zacharias, M., Day, J.C. 2011, Marine conservation ecology, Earthscan, Washington DC. Thomson, D.P. and Frisch, A.J. 2010, Extraordinary high coral cover on a nearshore, high-latitude reef in south-west Australia, Coral Reefs 29: 923-927. Presentations Beeden, R. 2010, 'Climate vulnerability and beyond .....', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Beeden, R. 2010, 'Keeping it great: linking monitoring to management', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. 176 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Bonanno, V. 2010, 'Sustainable tourism in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park', presented to visiting delegation from Okinawa Government Fisheries, Townsville, 11 November 2010. Briggs, C. 2011, 'Sustainable regional tourism on the Great Barrier Reef', presented to Capricorn Coast Regional Tourism Conference, Rockhampton, 17 March 2011. Briggs, C. 2011, 'The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: our role and function, including super-yacht access to the Great Barrier Reef', presented to 2011 Australia Superyacht and Marine Export Conference (ASMEX), Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast, 17-18 May 2011. Briggs, C, Marshall, P. 2010, 'Tourism and climate change on the Great Barrier Reef', presented to visiting delegation of Caribbean diplomats, Canberra, 17 August 2010. Cowlishaw, M., McGregor, R., Hatley, T., Bakker, T., McDonald, I., Rosse, R., Hoey, J., Gerhardt, K.L., Smith, A., Skeat, A. 2010, 'Reef permits: changes to the management of research within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Day, J. 2010, 'The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area ... some lessons learnt about OUV including integrity, protection and management', presented to Expert Workshop for Marine World Heritage, Isle of Vilm, Germany, 30 June-4 July 2010. Day, J. 2010, 'The Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009: a presentation about systematic assessment and reporting for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area', presented to 34th session of the World Heritage Committee, Brasilia, Brazil, 25 July-3 August 2010. Day, J. 2010, 'Draft supplementary guidelines for applying the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories to Marine Protected Areas', presented to National MPA Working Group meeting, Melbourne, October 2010. Day, J. 2010, 'Effective communication: an essential part of marine conservation: lessons learned from the Great Barrier Reef', videoconference presentation to Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Workshop, Washington DC, 28 October 2010. Day, J.C. 2010, 'The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - lessons learnt in managing a large multiple use, ecosystem-based MPA (including management effectiveness)', presented to CERF/DSEWPaC Workshop, Canberra, 16 November 2010. Day, J.C., 2011, 'The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - lessons learnt in managing a large multiple use, ecosystem-based MPA', presented to Marine Protected Areas Implementation team meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada, 18 May 2011. Dryden, J. 2010, 'Reef health and impact surveys: every survey is gold', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Gibson, J. 2010, 'Review of the GBRMPA environmental impact management policy', presented to Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee (ERAC), Townsville, 2 September 2010. APPENDICES 177 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Goudkamp, K. 2011, 'Integrated Eye on the Reef program and supporting information system', presented to Strategy Group meeting (QPWS and GBRMPA executives), Department of Premier and Cabinet, Brisbane, 24 February 2011. Goudkamp, K. 2011, 'Integrated Eye on the Reef: June 2011', presented to Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee (TRRAC) meeting, Townsville, 2 June 2011. Goudkamp, K., Beeden, R. 2011, 'Integrated Eye on the Reef: progress update March 2011', presented to Executive Management Group meeting, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, 1 March 2011. Goudkamp, K., Beeden, R. 2011, 'Integrated Eye on the Reef: March 2011', presented to GBRMPA seminar series, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, 5 May 2011. Heap, L. 2011, 'Reef Guardian Council', presented to Reef Guardian Council Steering Committee meeting, Cairns, 30-31 March 2011. Honchin, C. 2010, 'Herbicides in Great Barrier Reef waters', presented to the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's National Convention in conjunction with the 12th IUPAC International Congress on Pesticide Chemistry (ICPC), Convention Centre, Melbourne, 4-8 July 2010. Jackson, L., Kyle, T. 2010, 'Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements: Traditional Owners and government working together on sea country', presented to 3rd National Indigenous Land and Sea Management Conference, Broken Hill, 2-5 November 2010. Johnson, M. 2011, 'Executive Workshop: overview of executive workshop 9-10 March 2011', presented to Reef Guardian Council Steering Committee meeting, Cairns, 30-31 March 2011. Merida, F. 2010, 'Eye on the Reef monitoring program', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Merida, F. 2010, 'The sightings network - bringing it back to nature', presented to Global-Eco: Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference, Noosa, Sunshine Coast, 25-28 October 2010. Monkivitch, J., Turner, M., Godwin, E. 2010, 'Shen Neng 1 grounding', presented to Lessons Learnt Workshop, Townsville, 15 July 2010. Reichelt, R. 2010, 'Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Corporate Plan 2010-2014', presented to the Annual Local Marine Advisory Committee Chair's meeting, Townsville, 18 September 2010. Reichelt, R. 2010, 'GBRMPA, GBR Outlook Report and World Heritage Area management', presented to Board of the Wet Tropics Management Authority meeting, September 2010. Reichelt, R. 2010, 'The Great Barrier Reef: challenges and lessons learned', presented to World Bank Forum, Nagoya, Japan, 28 October 2010. Reichelt, R. 2011, 'Achieving ecologically sustainable fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park', presented to Outlook 2011 ABARE Conference, National Convention Centre, Canberra, 1-2 March 2011. 178 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Reichelt, R. 2011, 'The Great Barrier Reef', presented to Open for Business Ministerial visit, Cairns, 8 April 2011. Ridgway, T. 2010, 'Satellites, people and warming waters: the GBRMPA Coral Bleaching Response Plan', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Rosse, R., Godwin, E. 2010, 'Managing research activities in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park', presented to AMSA 2010 (Australian Marine Science Association) Conference: new waves in marine science, University of Wollongong, 4-8 July 2010. Schauble, C.2010, 'Extreme weather response program', presented to Conservation Volunteers Australia Climate Change Forum, Mackay, 12 October 2010; and to SEGRA 2010 (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia), Townsville, 19-21 October 2010; and to Operation Queenslander Environmental Sub Committee's stakeholder workshop to discuss marine responses to extreme weather events, Brisbane, May 2011. Schauble, C. 2011, 'Response framework for extreme weather incident response 2010/11', presented to Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee meeting (ERAC), Townsville, 30 March 2011. Schauble, C., 2011, 'What did Tropical Cyclone Yasi and recent flooding do to our coral reefs', presented to Fishing Expert Panel for Social and Economic Impact Assessment Project meeting, Townsville, June 2011. Schauble, C. 2011, 'What did Tropical Cyclone Yasi do to our coral reefs?' presented to Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee (TRRAC) meeting, Townsville, 2 June 2011. Skeat, H. 2010, 'Improving the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef', presented at Global Eco AsiaPacific Tourism Conference, Noosa, Queensland, 25-28 October 2010. Smith, A. 2010, 'Existing regulations for and measures taken to control environmental impacts of dredging operations', presented to Dredging Australia 2010 Conference, Brisbane, 27-28 July 2010. Smith, A., Gibson, J., Hoey, J., Marshall, P., Zuch, A. 2011, 'Climate change, EIA and the Great Barrier Reef', presented to IAIA 11 (International Association for Impact Assessment): impact assessment and responsible development for infrastructure, business and industry, Puebla, Mexico, 28 May-4 June 2011. Smith, A., Hoey, J., Gibson, J., Monkivitch, J., Cowlishaw, M. 2010, 'Environmental leadership and management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in a changing climate', presented to EIANZ (Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand) Conference 2010: from discovery to delivery: science, policy, leadership, action, Wellington, New Zealand, 27 October 2010. Tapim, J. 2010, 'Reef Rescue Program: working together in the Great Barrier Reef', presented to 3rd National Indigenous Land and Sea Management Conference, Broken Hill, 2-5 November 2010. Wachenfeld, D., Chandler, J., Cowlishaw, M., Dobbs, K., Molloy, F. 2010, 'The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef: standing at the crossroad', presented to ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Annual Symposium, Canberra, 8 October 2010. APPENDICES 179 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Wachenfeld, D., Edison, K.; McCook, L., Monkivitch, J., Short, M., Smith A. 2010, 'Shipping on the Great Barrier Reef', presented to 85th Annual Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) Conference, National Marine Science Centre and Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 10-12 September 2010. Weekers, D., 2011, 'A framework for intelligence-led enforcement in environmental compliance practice', presented to 9th International Conference for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement held by the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), British Columbia, Canada, 20-24 June 2011. Yorkston, H. 2011, 'Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystem Strategy', presented to Reef Guardian Council Steering Committee meeting, Cairns, 30-31 March 2011. 180 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDIX G: QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT FINANCIALS APPENDICES 181 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 182 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 183 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 184 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 185 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 186 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 187 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 188 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 189 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 190 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 191 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 192 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 193 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 194 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 195 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 196 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 197 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 198 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 APPENDICES 199 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 200 APPENDICES G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 201 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 ACRONYMS AFMA AIMS ANZECC APS APSC BMA CDPP COAG COTS CPSU CSIRO DEEDI DERM EDRMS EIS EMC EPBC Act FAICD FMA Act IAIA ICT IPS LMAC LNG MERI MTSRF NAA NTA NCCARF Australian Fisheries Management Agency Australian Institute of Marine Science Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council Australian Public Service Australian Public Service Commission Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Council of Australian Governments Crown-of-thorns starfish Community and Public Sector Union Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Qld) Department of Environment and Resource Management (Qld) Electronic Document and Records Management Systems Environmental Impact Statement Environmental Management Charge Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 International Association of Impact Assessment Information and communications technology Information Publication Scheme Local Marine Advisory Committee Liquefied natural gas Monitoring, Evaluation, Review and Improvement Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility National Archives of Australia National Tourism Alliance National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 202 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 NERP OAM QSIA QTIC RHIS RRRC RSoOUV SEWPaC SOCI TSRA TUMRA National Environmental Research Project Medal of the Order of Australia Queensland Seafood Industry Association Queensland Tourism Industry Council Reef Health and Impact Surveys Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Species of Conservation Interest Torres Strait Regional Authority Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement ACRONYMS AND INDEX 203 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 COMPLIANCE INDEX Part of report Description Letter of transmittal Table of contents Index Glossary Contact officer(s) Internet home page address and Internet address for report Review by Secretary Review by departmental secretary Summary of significant issues and developments Overview of department’s performance and financial results Outlook for following year Significant issues and developments – portfolio Requirement Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Suggested Suggested Suggested Portfolio departments – suggested Pages III V – VII 208 – 217 202 – 203 II II 3–7 3–7 10 – 14 N.A. N.A. Departmental Overview Overview description of department Role and functions Organisational structure Outcome and program structure Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory 10 10 – 11 11 16 – 18, 42 – 43, 65 – 66 N.A. Where outcome and program structures differ from PB Statements/PAES or other portfolio statements accompanying any other additional appropriation bills (other portfolio statements), details of variation and reasons for change Portfolio structure Mandatory Portfolio departments – mandatory Mandatory N.A. Report on Performance Review of performance during the year in relation to programs and contribution to outcomes Actual performance in relation to deliverables and KPIs set out in PB Statements/PAES or other portfolio statements Where performance targets differ from the PBS/ PAES, details of both former and new targets, and reasons for the change Narrative discussion and analysis of performance Trend information Performance of purchaser/ provider arrangements 16 – 77 Mandatory 77 Mandatory N.A. Mandatory Mandatory If applicable, suggested 16 – 77 77 N.A. 204 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Part of report Description Significant changes in nature of principal functions/ services Factors, events or trends influencing departmental performance Contribution of risk management in achieving objectives Social inclusion outcomes Performance against service charter customer service standards, complaints data, and the department’s response to complaints Discussion and analysis of the department’s financial performance Discussion of any significant changes from the prior year or from budget. Agency resource statement and summary resource tables by outcomes Developments since the end of the financial year that have affected or may significantly affect the department’s operations or financial results in future Requirement Suggested Suggested Suggested If applicable, mandatory If applicable, mandatory Mandatory Suggested Mandatory If applicable, mandatory Pages N.A. N.A. N.A. 89 88 12 – 14, 98 – 156 12 – 13 158 – 160 N.A. Management Accountability Corporate Governance Agency heads are required to certify that their agency comply with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. Statement of the main corporate governance practices in place Names of the senior executive and their responsibilities Senior management committees and their roles Corporate and operational planning and associated performance reporting and review Approach adopted to identifying areas of significant financial or operational risk Policy and practices on the establishment and maintenance of appropriate ethical standards How nature and amount of remuneration for SES officers is determined External Scrutiny Significant developments in external scrutiny Judicial decisions and decisions of administrative tribunals Reports by the Auditor-General, a Parliamentary Committee or the Commonwealth Ombudsman Management of Human Resources Assessment of effectiveness in managing and developing human resources to achieve departmental objectives Mandatory 88 Mandatory Suggested Suggested Suggested Suggested Suggested Suggested Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory 80 – 96 11 80 – 86 87 – 88 82 – 84 88 92 89 – 90 89 90 91 – 94 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 205 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Part of report Description Workforce planning, staff turnover and retention Impact and features of enterprise or collective agreements, individual flexibility arrangements (IFAs) determinations, common law contracts and AWAs Training and development undertaken and its impact Occupational health and safety performance Productivity gains Statistics on staffing Enterprise or collective agreements, IFAs determinations, common law contracts and AWAs Performance pay Requirement Suggested Suggested Pages 91 – 94 91 – 92 Suggested Suggested Suggested Mandatory Mandatory 92 92 N.A. 161 91 Mandatory If applicable, mandatory Mandatory Mandatory 92 94 – 95 95 – 96 95, 162 – 166 Assets management Purchasing Consultants Assessment of effectiveness of assets management Assessment of purchasing against core policies and principles The annual report must include a summary statement detailing the number of new consultancy services contracts let during the year; the total actual expenditure on all new consultancy contracts let during the year (inclusive of GST); the number of ongoing consultancy contracts that were active in the reporting year; and the total actual expenditure in the reporting year on the ongoing consultancy contracts (inclusive of GST). The annual report must include a statement noting that information on contracts and consultancies is available through the AusTender website. Absence of provisions in contracts allowing access by the Auditor-General Contracts exempt from the AusTender Financial Statements Australian National Audit Office Access Clauses Exempt contracts Financial Statements Mandatory 96 Mandatory Mandatory 96 98 – 156 206 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Part of report Description Occupational health and safety (section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991) Freedom of information for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 April 2011 inclusive (see terms of subsection 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 as it existed prior to 1 May 2011) Advertising and Market Research (Section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918) and statement on advertising campaigns Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance (Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Grant programs Disability reporting - explicit and transparent reference to agency-level information available through other reporting mechanisms. Correction of material errors in previous annual report List of Requirements Requirement Mandatory Mandatory Pages 92 167 – 169 Other Mandatory Information Mandatory 166 Mandatory 170 – 174 Mandatory Mandatory 96 93 If applicable, mandatory Mandatory N.A. 204 – 207 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 207 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 ALPHABETICAL INDEX A access for people with disabilities 93–4 acronyms and abbreviations 202–3 Addressing key risks affecting the outlook of the GBR (Objective 1) 10, 16–41 climate change action plan 17, 20–7 communicating the risks and solutions 18, 40–1 implementing Reef Rescue initiatives 18, 35–8 improving water quality 17, 27–30 KPI’s and achievements 17–18 overview and highlights 19 partnering with the science community 18, 38–40 protecting ecosystems, species and coastal habitat 17, 31–5 advertising campaigns 67, 166 advice to government 65, 70 advisory committees 6, 31, 37, 43, 50, 62–3, 84–6, 89 agency resource statement 158–60 Agnes Water desalination plant 46–7 agricultural industry, partnerships with 43 anchor damage 60 Annual Operating Plans 88 appropriation 12 aquaculture 30 assets management 94–5 Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators 26, 64 Audit Committee 82–4 Charter 89 management and accountability 83–4 roles and responsibilities 83 audit of permitted facilities and structures 45 Auditor General access by 95 Reports 89–90 Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 29 Australian Customs and Border Protection Service 60 Australian Government Disability Strategy 93 Australian Government Employment Bargaining Framework 91 Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) 3, 20, 21, 28, 71 Long Term Monitoring Program 33, 39 Australian Maritime Safety Authority 47, 60 Australian National Audit Office 98–9 reports 89–90 Australian National Water Quality Management Strategy 29 Australian Privacy Commissioner’s Personal Information Digest 70 Australian Public Service Commission 94 Respect 88 Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct 88 Australian Tourism Quality Assured (T-QUAL) trade mark 72 Australian Water Quality Guidelines 29 awards 6, 22, 44, 46, 66, 72 B balance sheet Field Management Program 183 GBRMPA 102 barge operations, strategic assessment 45 Beer, Russell 80–1 biodiversity 4, 30–1 conservation 17, 31, 32–3, 171 impact of extreme weather on 26 Biodiversity Strategy see Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy Biosecurity Queensland 32, 33 boating best practice 74 Bringing Adaptation to Life (workshop) 23 Bundaberg Regional Council 63 Bureau of Meteorology 3, 20 Burke, The Hon. Tony iii, 12 by-catch of large animals 52, 53 208 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 C Cape York Expedition (discussions on sea country management) 38 carbon footprint 24 Caring for Our Country 18, 25, 30, 35 cash flow statement Field Management Program 185 GBRMPA 104 Catchment and Coastal Reef Advisory Committee 31, 85 catchment ecosystems, assessment 19 Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies 39 Chairman’s review 3–7 Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society 89 Chief Executive’s Instructions 95 climate change fishing industry adapting to 17, 20, 23 identifying knowledge gaps 22 leadership 22 putting knowledge into action 23 regulatory tools to address impacts 22 tourism industry adapting to 17, 20, 24 Climate Change Action Plan 17, 20–7, 52, 73, 74 implementation 17, 20 incident response planning 20 interpretative trail at Low Isles and Port Douglas 22 Keppel Bay region resilience initiative 21 Raine Island 3, 20–1 Climate Change Adaptation Planning Framework 19, 20 components 21 Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment 22 Climate Change Incident Response Framework 20 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report for the East Coast Trawl Fishery 23 Coastal Bird Monitoring and Information Strategy 61 coastal ecosystems 31–2 assessment 19 protecting 19, 31 coastal habitat protection 17, 31 collaborative industry partnerships 43 Colmar Brunton Social Research 166 Commonwealth Disability Strategy 93–4 Commonwealth Ombudsman 90 Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines 95 communicating the risks and solutions 18, 40–1 communication and education 66, 73–7 community events 41 education about coastal ecosystems 76 newspaper inserts 41 public awareness programs 18, 19, 27, 40, 71, 74 Reef Guardian program 18, 19, 40, 41, 62, 63–4, 171 Reef HQ Aquarium 6, 72–3, 166 stewardship communications 74–7 community-based monitoring programs 33 community events 41 competitive tendering and contracting 95–6 compliance index 204–7 compliance management 4, 56–60 Commonwealth offences reported 58–9 compliance actions taken 60 number of information reports received 57 number of offences reported 57 constructive relationships to support ecologically sustainable use 4, 43, 62–4 consultancy services 95, 162–6 control framework 83 Coral Bleaching Response Plan 20 coral cover, outer reefs 39 Coral Disease Response Plan 20 coral reef ecosystem protection 60 Coral Reef Finfish Fishery, cyclone impact on 53 Coral Stress Response Plan 23 coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) spawning aggregation site monitoring 54 corporate governance 6, 69, 80–9 Corporate Plan 2010-2014 87–8 corporate planning 87–8 corporate planning process 87 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 209 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Council of Australian Governments 94 Crown-of-thorns Starfish (COTS) Control Program 26 CSIRO 3, 20, 26 Curtis Island 47 Cyclone Yasi 3, 19, 20, 25, 35, 60, 65, 70, 74 cyclones, impact on Coral Reef Finfish Fishery 53 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Report 23 Ecological Risk Assessment 4, 6, 44, 51, 85 ECO Certification Program 50 Ecological Risk Assessment of the East Coast Trawl Fishery 4, 6, 44, 51, 85 ecologically sustainable development 170–4 ecologically sustainable fishing 23, 44, 50–4, 85 ecologically sustainable tourism 50 ecologically sustainable use, constructive relationships to support 4, 43, 62–4 ecosystem monitoring 25, 33, 34, 61–2 ecosystem protection 17, 31–5, 60–1 Ecosystem Reef Advisory Committee 85 Ecotourism Australia 72 education see communication and education educational materials coastal ecosystems 76 impact of extreme weather on the Reef 26 pest species 27 to support Reef Guardian program 63 Electronic Document and Records Management Systems (EDRMS) 70 Emerald Agreement of 1979 181 Energy Data Gathering and Reporting System 174 energy performance 174 Ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the GBRMP (Objective 2) 10, 16, 42–64 constructive relationships to support ecologically sustainable use 43, 63–4 effective Field Management Program 43, 56–62 KPIs and achievements 42–3 Marine Park management 42, 45–54 overview and highlights 44–5 Sea Country management 42, 55–6 Enterprise Agreement 2009-2011 88, 91–2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 4, 31, 42, 46, 47, 170 expert advice provided 44 summary of activities by GBRMPA in accordance with section 516A 170–4 environmental assessment and management policies, review 45 D deeds of agreement, review 45 delegations (purchasing) 95 Dent Island Lightstation, Heritage Management Plan 54 Department of Defence, Talisman Sabre 2011 training exercise 47 Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Qld) 31 Department of Environment and Resource Management (Qld) 12, 25, 30, 31, 32, 55, 74 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Field Management Program see Field Management Program Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities 30, 31, 46, 54, 70, 170 Reef Rescue Research Development and Innovation Plan 29, 35 Dharumbal (Woppaburra Section) TUMRA 55–6 Disability Discrimination Act 1992 93 disability strategy 93–4 dive training 92 dolphins 61 dugong 17, 19, 26, 38, 55–6, 74 fishing industry improved net design to reduce interaction with 44, 52, 53 illegal taking of 5, 36, 44 mortality 6, 52, 61 necropsy training 32, 61 Dugong Taskforce 4, 32 E East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery 50 Wildlife Trade Operation 32 East Coast Trawl Fishery 210 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 environmental impact assessment 44 adjacent to the Marine Park 47 Great Keppel Island Tourism and Marina Development 46 environmental management, Department of Defence Talisman Sabre 2011 training exercise 47 Environmental Management Charge (EMC) 48, 90 Environmental Management Plan Agnes Water desalination plant 46–7 Hay Point Port expansion 46 Environmental Management System (EMS) 172 environmental performance 170–4 eReefs 39 ethical standards 88 Executive Management Group 14 expenditure 13–14 external accountability 83, 89 external audit 84, 98–9 Extreme Weather Response Program 13, 17, 19, 20, 25–7, 73, 74 assessment of damage 25, 35 and crown-of-thorns starfish 26 educational materials 26–7 Eye on the Reef expansion 25, 34 impact on biodiversity 26 impact on industry 26 impact on islands 26 Eye on the Reef Monitoring Program 17, 25, 33, 64 integrated approach 4, 34–5 training of participants 34 Eyes and Ears – Better Witness training (to report illegal activity) 44, 75 Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 69, 80, 82, 83, 84, 89, 95 Financial Management and Accountability Regulations 1997 95 financial performance, summary 12–14 financial statements Field Management Program 181–97 GBRMPA 101–56 first aid training 92 fish larvae, transport of 39 fish spawning aggregation site monitoring 53–4 fisheries management, social objectives for 52 Fisheries Queensland 23, 32, 51, 53, 64 Fisheries Research and Development Council 53 fishing industry adapting to climate change 17, 20, 23 ecologically sustainable fishing 50–4 net design to reduce interaction with dugong 44, 52, 53 Regional Management Partnership with 43 see also trawl fishery floods and flood plumes 3, 20, 25, 28, 65, 70, 74 fraud control 87, 88 freedom of information 70, 167–9 Information Publication Scheme 6, 70, 189 Future Leaders Eco Challenge 63, 66, 75 G Garrett, Hon. Peter 12 George, Melissa 55, 81 Girringun TUMRA 33 Gladstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) proposals 47 Gladstone Regional Council 46–7, 63 good governance 6, 65, 69–71 grant programs 96 Great Barrier Reef Biodiversity Strategy 4, 17, 30–1, 85, 86, 171 Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan 20072012 3, 22 implementation 17, 20 Great Barrier Reef Coastal Ecosystem Strategy 31 Great Barrier Reef Foundation 39 F Field Management Program 4, 10, 13, 43, 56–62 communications 75 compliance management 56–60 ecosystem monitoring 25, 33, 34, 61–2 ecosystem protection 17, 31–5, 60–1 financial statements 181–97 file creation 70 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 211 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 3, 12, 45, 69, 80, 82, 87, 170, 181 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 - Review Panel Report 2006 88 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Aquaculture) Regulations 2000 12 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 10–12, 80 Board meetings 82 committees 6, 31, 37, 43, 50, 54, 62–3, 82–6, 89 corporate governance 6, 69, 80–9 corporate and operational plans 87–8 financial performance 12–14 financial statements 101–56 funding 13–14 legislative framework 12 members 55, 80–1 risk management 83 Service Charter 2011-2015 6, 71, 88 summary of activities in accordance with section 516A of the EPBC Act 170–4 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge-Excise) Act 1993 12 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge-General) Act 1993 12 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Field Management Program see Field Management Program Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Heritage Strategy 54 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983 12, 45 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 4, 12 Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 3, 12, 50, 87, 88, 171 addressing knowledge gaps identified in 18, 19, 30, 31, 38, 40 implementation strategies 7, 10, 84, 85, 86 Great Barrier Reef Recreation Management Strategy 85, 86 Great Barrier Reef Region iv Great Barrier Reef Region (Prohibition of Mining) Repeal Regulations 1999 12 Great Barrier Reef Scientific Information Needs 20092014 38 Great Barrier Reef Shipping Management Group 47 Great Barrier Reef Tourism Climate Change Action Strategy 2009-2012 24 Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Guidelines 2009 27, 29 Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Report Card 29 Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area 10, 31, 47, 56, 61, 171, 181 Periodic Report for 54 Great Keppel Island Tourism and Marina Development, Environmental Impact Statement 46 green turtle population model 32 vulnerability assessment 20, 21, 26 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy 174 groundings 60, 61 Gschwind, Daniel 81 H Hay Point Port, dredging operations 46 heritage management plans 54 High Standard Tourism Program 44, 50 human resources management 91–4 I illegal taking of dugong and turtle 5, 36, 44 income 13 income statement Field Management Program 182 GBRMPA 101 Independent Auditor’s Report Field Management Program 198–9 GBRMPA 98–9 Indigenous Community Compliance Liaison Officers 36 Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) 55 Indigenous Partnership Program see Reef Rescue Land Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program Indigenous people on Board of Authority 55, 81, 86 communication and sharing knowledge 37–8 compliance training and patrols 5, 43 212 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Eyes and Ears – Better Witness training 44 representation on Authority committees 37, 55, 84, 86 Sea Country management 11, 33, 38, 42 Sea Country Partnership Grants 5, 37, 75 sustainable use and biodiversity conservation 36 TUMRAs 5, 18, 19, 33, 35, 38, 42, 55–6, 75, 85 Indigenous Reef Advisory Committee 37, 55, 85 information and communications technology (ICT) 68 Information Publication Scheme (IPS) 6, 70, 169 internal audit 84, 89 internal audit reports 90 International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), Institutional Award 44, 46 International Coral Reef Initiative 69 international engagement strategy 65, 66, 69 Island Hitchhiker’s program 27, 74 islands building audits on Commonwealth islands 54 and extreme weather 26 Library and Image Services 71 Local Marine Advisory Committees 6, 37, 43, 50, 62–3, 84, 86, 89 projects 63 regional centres 62–3 Long Term Reef Monitoring program 33, 39 Low Isles 54 interpretive trail 22 M mail and freight services 71 Maintaining a high performing and efficient organisation (Objective 3) 10, 16, 65–77 communication and education 66, 73–7 effective knowledge management 65, 66, 67–8 good governance 65, 69–71 KPIs and achievements 65–6, 77 overview and highlights 66–7 Reef HQ Aquarium 66, 71–3 major projects associated with ports, tourism, local council and government 4, 46–7 major research programs 4, 39 Marine Aquarium and Coral Collection Fisheries pilot program 5, 64 Marine Monitoring Program 3, 13, 18, 19, 25, 28, 39 Marine Park management 42, 45–54 Marine Tourism Contingency Plan 24 Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility 4, 39 Marine Wildlife Stranding Program 61 Maritime Safety Queensland 47, 60 market research 166 media advertising 166 members of Authority 55, 80–1 responsibilities 84 Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts 12 Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities iii, 12, 70, 80, 170 Moore Stephens (accountants) 89 J James Cook University 3, 20, 28, 53, 71 Joint Field Management Program see Field Management Program K Keppel Bay region resilience initiative 5–6, 21, 23 knowledge management 6, 7, 65, 66, 67–8 Knowledge Management Strategy and Implementation Plan 6, 67 knowledge portal 65, 67–8 Kuuka Ya’u Traditional Owners 38 L Lady Elliot Island Lightstation Heritage Management Plan 54 Lama Lama Traditional Owners 38 legislative compliance 65, 84 legislative framework 12 amendments to legislation during 2010-11 12 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 213 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 N National Archives of Australia 70 National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) 22, 23, 40 National Disability Strategy 94 National Environmental Research Program (NERP), Tropical Ecosystems hub 4, 18, 19, 21, 38, 39 National Tourism Accreditation Framework 72 Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups 17 Natural Resource Monitoring groups 43 newspaper inserts 41 North Queensland Tourism Awards 6, 66, 72 performance 16–77 permissions issued and transferred 47 pest species 27, 74 pesticide monitoring program 29 Plans of Management 42, 44 Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA 33 Port Douglas, interpretive trail 22 Portfolio Budget Statement 2, 16, 87 ports and shipping 47–8 protecting coastal ecosystems 19, 31 ProVision Reef 5–6, 23 ProVision Reef Stewardship Action Plan 23 public awareness programs 18, 19, 27, 40, 71, 74 Public Service Act 1999 69, 80, 88, 92 Pul Pul Traditional Owners 38 purchasing 95 O objectives 10, 16 Addressing key risks affecting the outlook for the GBR 10, 16–41 Ensuring management delivers ecologically sustainable use of the GBR 10, 16, 42–64 Maintaining a high performing and efficient organisation 10, 16, 65–77 occupational health and safety 92 OceanWatch 64 Ombudsman Act 1976 90 organisational structure 11 outcomes and objectives 10, 16 Outlook Report see Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009 Q Queensland Coastal Plan 30, 32 Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet 27, 28 Queensland Government 4, 44, 45, 47 Queensland Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park 10 Queensland grouper, risk assessment on deaths of 32–3 Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) 4, 33, 34, 35, 45, 48, 54, 56, 61 Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) 6, 23, 32, 51, 64 Queensland Wetlands Guidance Group 30 Queensland Wetlands Program 30 P Paddock to Reef Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program, First Report Card 28, 29 papers and presentations by staff 175–80 partnerships 5 collaborative industry 43 Indigenous 5, 18, 19, 35, 36–8, 55, 85, 93 research 39–40 with science community 18, 38–40 tourism operators 64 people with disabilities, access for 93–4 people management 88, 91 R Raine Island, Climate Change Action Plan 3, 20–1 Raine Island Adaptation Plan 21 records compliance and management 70 Recreation Management Strategy 50 Recreation Management Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 50 recycling 173 Reef Advisory Committees 6, 31, 37, 43, 50, 54, 62–3, 84–6, 89 214 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 indigenous representation 84, 86 Reef Guardian Council Working Group 63 Reef Guardian Councils program 5, 17, 40, 43, 45, 62, 63–4, 171 Reef Guardian Farmers program 5, 40, 43, 64 Reef Guardian Fishers program 5, 40, 43, 64 Reef Guardian Schools program 5, 40, 43, 45, 63, 65, 76–7 Reef Guardians program 5, 14, 18, 19, 40, 41, 44, 62, 63–4, 73, 74–5, 171 Reef Health and Impact Surveys (RHIS) 4, 25, 33, 34, 60–1 Reef Health Incident Response System 3, 19, 20 Reef HQ Aquarium 14, 66, 67, 71–3, 173 capital works improvement program 72, 94 educational programs 6, 72–3 promotional campaign 166 reef videoconferencing 73 Sea Country Connections Traineeship Program 93 Turtle Hospital 6, 72 visitor numbers 6, 67, 71 volunteers 73 wins awards 6, 66, 72 Reef HQ Volunteers Association 73 Reef Line Fishery 50, 64 Reef Line Working Group 64 Reef Permits system 14, 45 Reef Plan see Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Reef Plan Independent Science Panel 27 Reef Plan Partnership Committee 27 Reef Plan Report Card 19 Reef Plan Secretariat (Qld Department of Premier and Cabinet) 27 Reef Protection Package Research and Development Program 39 Reef Rescue initiatives 13, 18, 27, 29, 33, 35–8 Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program 13, 18, 19, 35, 36–8, 44, 55, 85, 93 communications 75 engaging with communities 36 enhanced compliance 36 Sea Country Partnerships Grants 37 sponsorship 37 strengthening communication and sharing knowledge 37–8 Reef Rescue Research Development and Innovation Plan 17, 29, 35 reef videoconferencing 73 Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) 17, 27 independent audit 28 Paddock to Reef Monitoring - First Report Card 28, 29 ReefBeat education posters 63 Regional Management Partnership, with fishing industry 43 Reichelt, Russell iii, 3–7, 80 remuneration non-senior executive employees 92 senior executives 88, 92, 138–40 Research and Development Corporations 40 Research, Development and Innovation Plan 20102011 (Reef Plan strategy) 27 research partnerships 39–40 responsibilities of members 84 revenue 12 review of deed of agreement 45 review of environmental assessment and management policies 45 Ripples of Change grants 66, 75, 77 risk and exposure of GBR waters to poor water quality 29 risk management 83 Rockhampton Regional Council 63 Royal Australian Air Force 47 Royal Australian Army 47 Royal Australian Navy 47 S salinity hazard maps 29 science community, partnerships 18, 38–40 Sea Country Connections Traineeship Program 93 Sea Country Guardians Activity Kit 37 Sea Country Guardians project 64 Sea Country management 33, 42, 55–6 ACRONYMS AND INDEX 215 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 eastern Cape York 38 Sea Country Partnerships Grants 5, 37, 75 Sea Country Partnerships Program see Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program Sea Country Partnerships Sponsorship Program 37, 75 Sea Country Toolkit 37 Seabird Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment Project 3, 20, 21, 61 seagrass status 3, 28 SeaRead (newsletter) 71 Senate Continuing Order for Indexed List of Departmental or Agency Files (Harradine Report) 70 senior executives practice and promotion of APS Values 88 remuneration 88, 92, 138–40 Service Charter 2011-2015 6, 71, 88 sharks 19 shipping 47–8 shipping incidents 60, 61 groundings 60, 61 Sightings Network 4, 26, 33, 34, 64, 74 Site Plans 42, 44 Smith, Ken 81 Social Inclusion Measurement and Reporting Strategy 94 social justice and equity 89 social objectives for fisheries management 52 species of conservation interest 32–3 Species of Conservation Interest (SOCI) Taskforce 32 staff 14, 91–4 classification 161 Enterprise Agreement 2009-2011 88, 91–2 occupational health and safety 92 papers and presentations 175–80 remuneration 92 training and development 32, 60, 92, 93 workplace diversity 93, 94, 161 see also senior executives Standing Council on Community, Housing and Disability Services 94 Stanton International Pty Ltd 89 statement of cash flows see cash flow statement statement of changes in equity Field Management Program 284 GBRMPA 103 statement of comprehensive income Field Management Program 182 GBRMPA 101 statement of financial position see balance sheet stewardship communications 74–7 ‘Story Place’ (Traditional Owner bibliography) 37, 75 strandings 4, 26, 32, 60 Strategic Internal Audit Plan 89 Streptococcus agalactiae 32, 33 Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) portfolio 10 sustainable traditional hunting 17 T Tourism Climate Change Action Group 24 tourism industry adapting to climate change 17, 20, 24 ecologically sustainable tourism 50 tourism operators 5 assist with survey of cyclone damage 35 climate change workshops 24 ECO Certification 50 Environmental Management Charge 48 High Standard Tourism Program 44, 50 participation in Eye of the Reef program 17, 33, 64 partnerships 64 responsible reef practices Tourism Operators Emissions Calculator 24 Tourism Quality Council of Australia 72 Tourism and Recreation Reef Advisory Committee 86 tourist visitor numbers 49 Traditional Owners 5, 11, 19, 36–8, 42, 44, 55–6, 85, 93, 171 see also Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRAs) 18, 19, 33, 35, 38, 42, 55–6, 75, 85 216 ACRONYMS AND INDEX G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 Toolkit 75 training and staff development 32, 60, 92, 93 trawl fishery, ecological risk assessment 4, 44, 51, 85 TUMRA Development Workbook 37 turtles 3, 17, 19, 21, 53, 55–6, 61, 74 illegal taking of 5, 44 Turtle Hospital 6, 72 see also green turtle Australian Delegation to 54 Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (for Great Barrier Reef) 54 World Wildlife Fund 53 Wuthathi Traditional Owners 38 Z Zoning Plans 4, 12, 42, 44, 71 U Umpila Traditional Owners 38 United States Armed Forces 47 University of Queensland 21, 28 V vulnerability assessments 20, 21, 26, 30–1 W water quality 17, 27–30, 43 aquaculture developments 30 guidelines 29 Marine Monitoring Program 3, 28–9, 39 Reef Plan 27–8 Reef Rescue Research Development and Innovation Plan 29 risk and exposure report 29 salinity hazard maps 29 wetlands initiatives 30 website redevelopment 7, 65, 66, 67–8 Wet Tropics 171 wetlands 30 whales 61 Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association 64 Wildlife Trade Operation for the East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery 32 Woppaburra TUMRA 55–6 ‘Working together today for a healthier Reef tomorrow’ (TV campaign) 40 workplace diversity 93, 94, 161 workplace relations 91 World Heritage Committee ACRONYMS AND INDEX 217 G R E A T B A R R I E R R E E F M A R I N E P A R K A U T H O R I T Y • Annual Report 2010-11 218 G r e at B a r r i e r R e e f M a r i n e Pa r k A u t h o r i t y Annual Report 2010-11 w w w. g b r m p a . g o v. a u