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View Full Version : Marine park group to talk reef rezoning



jaybee
27-11-2003, 04:17 PM
The board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority meets today to discuss the controversial rezoning of the marine park.

The draft zoning plan and previews of the final plan have drawn fire from some in the recreational and commercial fishing industries, but the Federal Government has agreed to consider any businesses that lose money from the changes.

The authority's Bruce Kingston says the board has been well briefed throughout the rezoning process.

He says the board will have final veto over the plan before it is submitted to Federal Environment Minister David Kemp.

"Obviously, we've tried to keep them well informed about the process and we would hope that, as we have with many other communities along the coast, they're going to see the positive changes have been made and they'll approve it to go on to the Minister, but it's entirely up to them," he said.

Last Update: Wednesday, November 26, 2003. 11:35am (AEDT)

kc
27-11-2003, 06:33 PM
Something doesn't quiet add up here. Is GBRMPA now trying to cover for a Minister (their boss) who has been caught with his sticky little fingers where they should not have been??

As late as Monday afternoon (24th November) we have been lobbying (read...up 'em for the rent) the federal Ministers office over changes to the RAP plan that he has personally made at the behest of the commercial fishing lobby.
As a result of pressure we and others have been applying (including questions raised in parliment today (26th Nov by shadow environment minister) I was told by a senior policy advisor to the minister (Peter Padliati..spelling probabaly worng) that cabinet has already seen the "final" plan and approved RAP to go back to the GBRMPA for "rubber stamping". This is a plan which includes areas of the park which GBRMPA, the SSC, local communities and LMAC's wanted "Yellow" and at the ministers whim they are now showing "Blue" (read open slather gill netting and beam trawling).

No wonder Sunfish CEO Dave Bateman is "confused" and doesn't know who to trust!!

If you feel like letting Kemp know he has misjudged the communities mood about interferrence with RAP or want to just know what the hell is going on give him an e-mail on D.Kemp.MP@aph.gov.au

I'm sure he really love to hear from you.....ALL!!


Cheers

KC

kc
28-11-2003, 07:08 PM
The plot thickens for those that are interested.

Last night, 26th, a senior GBRMPA rep, a Ms Fiona Macdonald told the Whitsundayt LMAC meeting that "there has been no politcal influence in RAP and the decision to remove the proposed yellow Zone in Repulse Bay", unbeknown to Ms Macdonald the latest Fishing industry newsletter says that the pro lobby "Worked through federal environment minster Dr David Kemp to progeress further changes to the plan to reduce impact on Industry".

It would appear someone is telling porkies.........


KC

jockey
29-11-2003, 10:06 AM
What exactly does she mean by 'no political influence?' What other influence could there have been, or was it just a clerical error?