Cairns Regional Council recommends improvements to Great Barrier Reef plan

October 15, 2020

Environment / Government / Tourism /

Cairns Regional Council has made 16 recommendations on the updated Draft Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan - Australia’s overarching long-term strategy for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef to support its health and resilience.

In responding to the updated Plan – Cairns Regional Council would like to see an independent review of management structures, along with a quantification of future Federal and Queensland government investment as part of a new long-term strategy to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

The Australian and Queensland governments are updating the Plan as part of the first five yearly comprehensive review. The updated draft Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan was released for a six-week public consultation period from 19th August to 30th September 2020. The outcomes of this consultation will inform the finalisation of the updated Reef 2050 Plan. A final updated Plan is expected to be released in early 2021.

While there is support for the vision of the plan – The Great Barrier Reef is sustained as a living natural and cultural wonder of the world – Cairns Regional Council recommended that the vision be reframed to inspire urgent action in the short to medium term from all stakeholders.

Recommendations made in Council’s submission included:

Quantify and confirm the future investment that will be made by the Australian and Queensland Governments in the Draft Plan’s priority work areas over the period 2020 to 2025.
Include as a strategic action a detailed independent review of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Wet Tropics Rainforest (WTR) management structures and GBR/WTR funding (quantum and structure) requirements for the long-term management and preservation of these critical ecosystems.
Acknowledge the potential benefits to the GBR of pursuing a ‘Green Economy’ objective.
Include support for local governments to work in conjunction with Traditional Owners on catchment and coastal management.

To read the full Reef 2050 Plan, highlights and Reef 2050 Policy Guideline for Decision Makers, click here.

8th October 2020 - Census launched to help inform Great Barrier Reef key management decisions

30th September 2020 - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority responds to illegal fishing on the Reef

14th September 2020 - Gladstone Regional Council renews its commitment to guarding the Great Barrier Reef

8th September 2020 - Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes Federal Government intervention into protecting Great Barrier Reef wildlife

16th June 2020 - Great Barrier Reef campaigners deliver message of Reef-safe recovery

5th June 2020 - Great Barrier Reef Foundation announces Australia’s first integrated Reef Restoration Hub

13th May 2020 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators to receive additional financial assistance

5th March 2020 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators highlight the distressing impacts of coral bleaching

30th August 2019 - Great Barrier Reef status downgraded to very poor for first time

26th June 2019 - Research shows Great Barrier Reef visitors understand climate threat

17th April 2019 - Great Barrier Reef Tourism Operators call for Urgent Action from Australia’s politicians

12th December 2018 - Australian Marine Conservation Society demands Adani court admission of Great Barrier Reef pollution

8th June 2018 - Coral bleaching leads to fall in domestic tourism to Great Barrier Reef

22nd January 2018 - Federal Government to fund $60 million Great Barrier Reef rescue package

26th June 2017 - Great Barrier Reef delivers $56 billion value for Australia

4th June 2017 - UN report shows challenges in protecting the Great Barrier Reef

7th May 2016 - Great Barrier Reef tourism operators call for action to tackle climate change

30th May 2015 - Great Barrier Reef to be spared UNESCO ‘in danger’ listing

11th May 2015 - Chief Scientist leads new taskforce to help save Great Barrier Reef

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