Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999 - SECT 176

             (1)  The Minister may prepare a bioregional plan for a bioregion that is within a Commonwealth area. In preparing the plan, the Minister must carry out public consultation on a draft of the plan in accordance with the regulations.

             (2)  The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, co‑operate with a State or a self‑governing Territory, an agency of a State or of a self‑governing Territory, or any other person in the preparation of a bioregional plan for a bioregion that is not wholly within a Commonwealth area.

             (3)  The co‑operation may include giving financial or other assistance.

             (4)  A bioregional plan may include provisions about all or any of the following:

                     (a)  the components of biodiversity, their distribution and conservation status;

                     (b)  important economic and social values;

                    (ba)  heritage values of places;

                     (c)  objectives relating to biodiversity and other values;

                     (d)  priorities, strategies and actions to achieve the objectives;

                     (e)  mechanisms for community involvement in implementing the plan;

                      (f)  measures for monitoring and reviewing the plan.

          (4A)  A bioregional plan prepared under subsection (1) or (2) is not a legislative instrument.

             (5)  Subject to this Act, the Minister must have regard to a bioregional plan in making any decision under this Act to which the plan is relevant.