GBRMPA maps..ya got ta' laugh

[kc]

For all us conspiracy theorists out these who think GBRMPA is just out to confuse the shit out of us so we give up and go play golf, or sit down in front of the tele with the kids, here is a classic.
Im going to try to post the relavent documents and JPG's at the end of this but if I stuff up get a lóok at the detailed map of the Whitsunday's and have a look at the green zone out front of Erlando bay North of Airlie.

The following quote is direct from the disclaimer on the map.

"Please note: Although these products may display zoning to a high degree of mapping accuracy, they have no legal effect and are not a substitute for the zone boundary descriptions provided in Schedule 1 to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003."

So, just to check that the map is right you go to the zoning plan (I hope the jpg's are attached) which basically says you start at the point north where the zone touches the coast, work through a series of points to the southerly most point of the zone

AND THEN "FOLLOW THE MAINLAND AT MEAN LOW WATER MARK BACK TO THE COMMENCEMENT POINT.

Now, this is the LAW, but the map shows the bays as blue zones...remember, the map is a guide and you can't trust the maps, you can only really trust the zoning plan.

With this confusion in hand I rang the maping division of GBRMPA........please explain?? & this is no BS. This particular bay is state marine park, why, because this, and any other bay, across whoose mouths a cannon can be fired from one side to the other is state marine park and if you can't fire a cannon across it is federal marine park. So in this particular case....."FOLLOW THE MAINLAND ALONG AT MEAN LOW WATER MARK" , actually means cut straight across the front of the bays in 120 foot of water. Now if a bay on an Island can have a cannon fired across its mouth, that does not matter, it is still federal marine park, unless of course the island is near the mainland!! It would appear regardless of the colour zoning on the maps the good old cannon test will determine if the bay is validly zoned.

But wait, there's more. When the state passes its complimentary zoning legislation, the current maps will be invalid. You could maybe ignore the written law and trust the zoning map (if you had a good cannon) and be blissfully fishing in a bay only to be pinged because your map is the OLD map. You will need the NEW map or better still 2 MAPS. One state and one federal.

This is dead set & all a sick joke. My suggestion...get a bigger F^%^&in' cannon and point it at bloody Canberra.


Now to try the jpg's. Fingers crossed coz your gunna love 'em

[kc]

One worked,
I'll try the map again

KC

[TonyM]

Now I'm totally confused... ???

Exactly what size cannon would you reccomend for a 4.55 tinnie? Forgive me for asking this stupid question - it's just that I don't have one and obviously they are a must-have navigation device...

oops - I probably should post this in boating chat

[Local_Guy]

how big is the cannon?

[kc]

Isn't this a hoot!! This is dead set no BS!! So "following the mainland coast at mean low water mark", does not ACTUALLY mean following the mainland coast at mean low water mark. It Means "following the mainland coast at mean low water mark, until you reach a bay, across whose points a cannon can be fired and THEN, following the coast at mean low water mark means going straight across the bay.

FACT 1. I'm not blonde!!
Fact 2. Where does it say this on the map??!!
Fact 3. Where does it say this in the legislation??.
fACT 4. It is altogether just too much for me, I'm going off to have a Bex & a good lie down.

Regards

KC

[kc]

Oh!! & I have a question. If you fire a cannon, for the purposes of assessing the distance across and bay to see if you can fish or not, and the cannonball falls short and kills a fish. Is this considered fishing or navigation??

Also if anyone finds anymore classic bloopers on their area maps can you please let me know.

It will be important.

Regards

KC

[TonyM]

Yet another question...

Given the advancement in militiary technology I imagine the range of a modern cannon is obviously far superior to an older "shot" style cannon - does this mean the bigger the cannon you have the more bays you can fish in? (makes sense I guess - If I were a fisheries inspector I wouldn't want to bother someone with a really big cannon...)

[MTpockets]

ummmm yer KC..... that clears up a hell of a lot of confusion dun it?? Does that green section overlap that blue section at all, or is it parallel? Do white X's float like in the naked gun movies? Where do farts go?
You have a spare bex onya mate?
cheers
Les

[kc]

this went out to several dozen media out lets with the 2 jpg's at ttthe start of this post attached.

Be interesting to see the media response

Press Release

July 3, 2004

A Typical example of confusion created by GBRMPA Maps

While GBRMPA has been at pains to tell the press and the general public that uses the marine park that the available maps are easy to follow, the attached example is a classic case of the type of confusion which is occurring amongst the recreational fishing community and why, The Fishing Party (Qld), maintains that people are just giving up and leaving the sport and why support industries such as tackle and boating industries are suffering.

The following notation is the disclaimer, which appears on the zoning maps,

“This map is intended as a guide for zoning only and has no legal effect and is not a substitute for the zoning boundary descriptions provided in Schedule 1 of the Zoning plan. Users should always refer to the zoning plan when intending to use the park”.

Seems pretty clear. The map is just a guide and the zoning plan is the law.

Attached to this email are 2 documents. 1 is an extract from this “zoning plan”, the law, as it relates to a particular green zone in the Whitsunday’s. Bear in mind we are all supposed to refer to this when intending to use the park. Simple and a well written easy to understand document for any layman.

We have run a computerized mapping program over the zone which depicts the latitude and longitude reference point depicted in point 1 of the attached zoning plan extract, at the Northern most point of the green zone where it touches the coast. It then follows a series of points to the Southern tip of the green zone where it touches the coast in point 5 of the legal description. Point 6 has the green zone “follow the mainland coast at mean low water mark back to the point of commencement”. Now one would think this means follow the mainland coast at mean low water mark back to the point of commencement and as such the 2 bays are legally green zones and an error was made on the map. The map is only a guide; the zoning plan is the law after all. A call to GBRMPA for some clarification however advised that no. Those 2 small bays are in fact blue because in this case, with reference to an old navy law, if you can/could fire a cannon across the entrance to a bay, shore to shore, then that bay became state inland waters and was not covered by the zoning. So in this case follow the mainland coast at mean low water mark actually means cut straight across the bay in 40 meters of water. We could find no reference to the “cannon test” in any of the marine park documents.
It may well come to pass that, with this test in mind, depending on the size of one’s cannon, that many of the bays on various maps may be inaccurately depicted and zoned.

It appears to us that GBRMPA has set out to create maximum confusion and with the maps clearly being a guide and the zoning plan, which we are supposed to read and understand, being the document we are actually supposed to refer to before entering the park, how long before someone cops a massive fine by blundering into a green zone. Given GRBMPA instructs all users to refer to the zoning plan, not the maps before it uses the park one would expect each map to come with a copy of the zoning plan. This is not the case. Only a small number (relative to map numbers) have been printed and distributed. It is very difficult to find a copy of the zoning plan, which we are all, supposed to refer to before using the park.

The truth is many people, particularly those who are only occasional fishers, will look at the maps; the fines and the technical jargon and just not bother.

The Fishing Party (Qld) is also amazed that GBRMPA, as quoted in the Courier Mail of 2nd July, has dismissed out of hand the policies of our organization because to date they have not actually even asked to see them.

Ends

Media enquiries
0414 785 462


Cheers all.

KC

[Kerry]

Also with regards the maps, coordinates etc has anybody seen or heard anything from any of the third party mapping/chart providors.

AND especially with regards who is covering the cost of including the new zoning info into third party chart products.

Have not seen anything in this regards but maybe somebody has? Really considering that these zonings have been "imposed" on the general boating user then really in no way should the user be expected to be charged for the privilege from any third party mapping providor.

In no way shape or form should any third party mapping/chart providors be able to make any (ongoing) profit (what so ever) from these zonings in increased charges for having to include these zonings in to any of their products.

So if there are any costs incurred by the mapping companies, and obviously there will be then these really should be covered by a up front once off implementation fee and charged to GBRMPA.


Cheers, Kerry.

[megafish71]

Very good point Kerry, But I'd be wanting GBRMPA to provide the correct info before printing anything.
Ron

[Kerry]

Ron, the info (coordinate schedule etc) is all covered in the zoning plan legislation, so all the info is available and the coordinate schedule effectively is the absolute reference as far as legal traceability is concerned.

Cheers, Kerry.

[kc]

Except any company planning a releasing an updated GPS map card will wait to see what the State does re the complimentary zoning legislation. Or maybe they will produce a card now (& sting us a couple of hundred) then another update later, for another couple of hundred and who knows what in the future. Fishing is looking like a more and more expensive hobby for less and less enjoyment. Hmmmm! Maybe that's what they actually want!

KC

[BladeRunner]

All zoned out [smiley=policeman.gif]
This is an invetation to all the fish between Caloundra & Tincan bay especially Double Island Point Big REDS & SNAPPER . Make you way North to the new zones you will be left alone in a area of warm tranqual waters heaps of coral and great place to retire. To many of you are being caught and displayed on the Ausfish Web Site.

My space. As you run the gauntlet passed where I am allowed to fish I won't take to many of your brother & sisters. But Remember when you arrive at your designation Just check your boundrys with GRUMPY [smiley=dunce.gif] Gos if he won't tell you who can. (Don't buy a map.) CQ TO CAIRNS when your area becomes a tourist attraction for a great place to fish. Becomes every childs dream is to catch a fish. lets not make it to hard for the future .Even I am having to bend a little.

Your not the only one's in the same boat It effects a lot of people but who ever is at the wheel needs to know who voted for them. Who is in trouble when a mistake is made?. I wish I had a cannon or sexton or whatever.
Thanks for reading


BladeRunner [smiley=bandana.gif]

[Mad_Barry]

CMap are supposedly updating their charts by september (according to the local nav shop). Yes, will be at regular update prices, about $80 to $100.

Kerry, I also noticed Cmap as one of the "advertisers" in the GRUMPA handout booklet "guide to fishing the barrier reef" (or something like that), I recieved in the mail last week. So I'd say there is a little hand holding going on.