1
October 2008 - A bird’s-eye view of the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is now possible,
thanks to innovative online mapping technology
officially launched today (Wednesday 1 October).
This is the first time
maps of the Marine Park are available through
online mapping service Google Maps, enabling
internet users worldwide to dive deeper
into this great natural icon with just the
click of a button.
Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority Chairman Russell Reichelt
welcomed the addition of the new map data
and satellite imagery of the world’s largest
coral reef system to Google Maps.
“The Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park belongs to all of us and this
is a fantastic opportunity for all Australians
and people from around the world to see
this natural treasure like never before,”
he said.
“This is a great example
how technology can be used to educate people
about the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
and why this area is special and should
be protected.
“It also allows other
marine planners and managers to study aspects
of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which
is widely recognised as one of the best
managed and healthiest coral reef ecosystems
in the world.”
The move coincides with
International Year of the Reef, a worldwide
campaign in 2008 to raise awareness about
the importance of coral reefs and to motivate
people to take action to protect them.
The new technology enables
internet users to search for and locate
islands, reefs, cays and rocks in the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park online.
The information can
also be used by people planning holidays,
researchers and divers scoping dives and
distances in advance, and educators teaching
students about Reef geography.
The inclusion of Marine
Park map layers was made possible by a close
collaboration between Google Maps and the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
“The Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park is one of the world's greatest
geographical treasures and we are thrilled
to share it with people worldwide who use
Google Maps,” said Raul Vera, Head of Geo
Products, Google Australia.
“Adding the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park to Google Maps is in keeping
with our goal to provide innovative ways
for people to learn about and explore the
world around them."
Online maps of the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park are available at
http://maps.google.com.au
Using features of Google
Maps, Australians can create personalised
My Maps of their experiences in the Marine
Park. This enables people to share photos,
videos and stories with friends, family
or the world.
Third-party web developers
can also create Mapplets to add new features
or overlay their data on the reef system.
+ More
Government welcomes
Garnaut Climate Change Review
Media release - 30 September
2008 - The Australian Government today welcomed
the release of the final report of the Garnaut
Climate Change Review.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
Professor Garnaut's independent review was
the most comprehensive economic review of
climate change since the Stern Review was
released in 2006.
"Professor Garnaut's
work highlights the scale of the challenge
of tackling climate change," Senator
Wong said.
"His Climate Change
Review shows that while there will be some
unavoidable costs from climate change, the
costs of taking action to reduce carbon
pollution are less than the costs that would
be incurred if we fail to act.
"It shows the costs
of climate change are likely to occur earlier
and be more substantial than previous modelling
has indicated."
The Garnaut Review was
commissioned by the Federal Labor Opposition
and State Labor Governments in 2007.
"The Labor Party
made a decision to get started on this important
work from opposition because we understand
the importance of taking action on climate
change," Senator Wong said.
"The previous government
failed to address climate change for over
a decade and prominent members of the Liberal
Opposition are still trying to delay action
at every opportunity.
"Professor Garnaut's
work has gone a long way towards getting
Australia on the right track to address
the enormous challenge of climate change."
The Government thanks
Professor Garnaut and his team for their
excellent work.
"Professor Garnaut
is one of Australia's most esteemed economists,"
"His work has already
a made strong contribution in Australia
and will be studied closely around the world,"
Senator Wong said.
The Rudd Government
is scheduled to release further Treasury
modelling in October.
The Government's White
Paper on the final design of the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme is due for release
by the end of the year.
