Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK ACT 1975 - SECT 32

             (1)  As soon as practicable after an area has been declared to be part of the Marine Park, the Authority shall prepare a zoning plan in respect of that area.

             (2)  Before preparing a zoning plan in respect of an area in the Marine Park, the Authority shall, by public notice:

                     (a)  state that it intends to prepare a zoning plan in respect of that area; and

                     (b)  invite interested persons to make representations in connexion with the proposed plan by such date, not being less than 3 months after the date of publication of the notice in the Gazette , as is specified in the notice; and

                     (c)  specify an address to which such representations may be forwarded; and

                     (d)  specify that the following are publicly available and how a copy may be obtained:

                              (i)  principles approved under section 34;

                             (ii)  a statement prepared under subsection 35(1).

             (3)  A person may, not later than the date specified in the notice, make representations to the Authority in connexion with the proposed plan, and the Authority shall give due consideration to any representations so made.

             (4)  The zoning plan shall provide that, for the purposes of this Act, the area:

                     (a)  constitutes a single zone; or

                     (b)  is divided into 2 or more zones described in the plan;

and shall assign a name or other designation to the zone or each of those zones, as the case may be.

             (6)  In respect of a zone, a zoning plan shall make provision with respect to the purposes for which the zone is to be, or may be, used or entered.

          (6A)  The Authority must, in preparing the plan, have regard to the principles approved under section 34 in relation to the preparation of the plan.

             (7)  In the preparation of the plan, regard shall be had to the following objects:

                     (a)  the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef;

                     (b)  the regulation of the use of the Marine Park so as to protect the Great Barrier Reef while allowing the reasonable use of the Great Barrier Reef Region;

                     (c)  the regulation of activities that exploit the resources of the Great Barrier Reef Region so as to minimize the effect of those activities on the Great Barrier Reef;

                     (d)  the reservation of some areas of the Great Barrier Reef for its appreciation and enjoyment by the public; and

                     (e)  the preservation of some areas of the Great Barrier Reef in its natural state undisturbed by man except for the purposes of scientific research.

          (7A)  Nothing in this Act shall be taken as implying that the responsible agency within the meaning of a plan must be an agency other than the Authority.

             (8)  When the Authority has prepared the plan, it shall, by public notice:

                     (a)  state that the plan has been prepared; and

                     (b)  invite interested persons to make representations in connexion with the plan by such date, not being less than 3 months after the date of publication of the notice in the Gazette , as is specified in the notice; and

                     (c)  specify an address or addresses at which copies of the plan may be inspected or purchased; and

                     (d)  specify an address to which representations in connexion with the plan may be forwarded; and

                     (e)  specify that a statement prepared under subsection 35(2) is publicly available and how a copy may be obtained.

             (9)  A person may, not later than the date specified in the notice, make representations to the Authority in connexion with the plan, and the Authority shall give due consideration to any representations so made and, if it thinks fit, alter the plan accordingly.

           (10)  The Authority shall thereupon submit to the Minister:

                     (a)  the plan; and

                     (b)  if representations have been made under subsection (9)--those representations, together with the comments of the Authority on those representations.

           (11)  The Minister may:

                     (a)  accept the plan as so submitted; or

                     (b)  refer it to the Authority, together with his or her suggestions, for further consideration.

           (12)  Where the plan has been so referred to the Authority, it shall, as soon as practicable after the receipt of the plan, give further consideration to the plan, having regard to the suggestions of the Minister, and again submit the plan, with or without alterations, to the Minister, together with its comments on the suggestions of the Minister.

           (13)  When the plan is again submitted to the Minister, he or she shall, as soon as practicable after receipt of the plan, accept the plan as so submitted or after making such alterations as he or she thinks fit.

           (14)  Where the Minister makes alterations to a plan under subsection (13), he or she shall prepare a report specifying the alterations and setting out any views expressed by the Authority in respect of the matters to which the alterations relate, and the report shall accompany the plan when it is laid before both Houses of the Parliament under section 33.