Great Sandy Strait...plans..... ?

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Draft Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan

The Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan (GSRMAP) is being developed by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). The aim of the plan is to establish guidelines for sustainable marine aquaculture development, and to streamline and standardise assessment processes for future aquaculture applications within the boundaries of the Great Sandy Marine Park.
The Great Sandy Marine Park stretches from Baffle Creek to Double Island Point. Under the Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan, non-intensive aquaculture activities are allowed (under permit) in certain areas - the zoning plan is administered by the Department of Environment and Resource Management. However, up until now there has been no comprehensive planning for aquaculture in the region. The GSRMAP will help to ensure clarity for future non-intensive aquaculture development within the marine park boundaries.
The GSRMAP proposes the most appropriate sites for rack, line and ranching aquaculture (but not sea cages) in line with provisions of the marine park. The sites were chosen to minimise conflict with other user groups, while considering the social and environmental value of the region.
To further reduce the risk of impacts on these values, management controls have been developed. They provide clear rules regarding approval of future aquaculture activities and the conditions under which aquaculture farms can operate. They include infrastructure design specifications, an environmental bond requirement, environmental monitoring programs and general biosecurity measures. The controls were outlined in the draft GSRMAP - full details were provided in the draft implementation guidelines for the Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan (GSRMAP implementation guidelines).
The locations of proposed aquaculture sites in the GSRMAP were selected after extensive consultation between industry and government. Local knowledge was sought at an early stage with key stakeholder organisations providing information about the environment, marine mammals and turtles, fishing and boating activities, commercial use and tourism.
A Queensland inter-agency working group was also created to oversee each stage of the planning process and endorse key decisions. The working group includes DEEDI, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Environment and Resource Management. The Aquaculture Inter-Departmental Committee and other relevant state departments were also involved at this level of consultation.
An environmental consultancy firm was then commissioned to undertake detailed environmental investigations of the proposed sites identified during the initial stages of the planning process. The characterisation studies produced by this firm provided detailed information about the nature of the sites and confirmed their suitability.
Factors considered in the development of the plan

• geographical information systems (GIS data sets - constraints layers)
• information from targeted stakeholder consultation (focus groups)
• State and Federal agency input
• characterisation studies (consultant)
• public consultation on the draft plan
• whole-of-government decision.

Draft planning documents

A draft GSRMAP was developed in 2008. It included:

• the plan containing full details of proposed aquaculture sites, planning principles and management outcomes to minimise the risk of social and environmental impacts
• the maps illustrating overlay plans and proposed marine aquaculture sites for the Great Sandy regional marine aquaculture plan.

Specific management controls to achieve the GSRMAP outcomes are included in the GSRMAP implementation guidelines (PDF, 463 kB)
A draft policy for allocation of marine aquaculture authorities (PDF, 434 kB) was also developed.
Information on initial public meetings held to develop GSRMAP are included in the record of 2007 focus group meetings.
Draft marine aquaculture allocation policy for Queensland

A separate policy is also being developed by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation to establish a flexible and transparent pre-assessment process for future aquaculture development applications in Queensland.
Aquaculture applications are currently considered on a non-competitive, 'first come, first serve' basis. The draft Policy for allocation of marine aquaculture authorities proposes a formal but flexible process for managing future applications using a combination of non-competitive and competitive processes.
Competitive allocation involves an expression of interest process-the merit of each application will be evaluated by a panel using allocation criteria. If applicants are successful at this stage, they will need to submit a standard development approval application form.


Further information

• email aquaculture.planning@dpi.qld.gov.au
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