Media release
11 April 2010
Environment Protection
Minister Peter Garrett and Minister for
Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor today welcomed
the decision by the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) to execute a search warrant on the
MV Mimosa and pursue charges against members
of the ship's crew under the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
Minister Garrett said
the AFP's action against the Panamanian
registered bulk carrier followed it allegedly
crossing a restricted area of the Great
Barrier Reef en route to Abbot Point Coal
Terminal in Bowen, Queensland, on April
4.
The AFP's actions yesterday
evening follow a referral from the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
It underlines the seriousness with which
we treat the protection of the Reef and
any breaches of the strict measures in place
to protect it.
The Great Barrier Reef
is an extraordinary natural wonder as well
as an important economic driver for Queensland
and the nation.
That is why we take
very seriously any action which puts at
risk the health or the unique values that
see it afforded protection on the World
Heritage List, and ensure that breaches
of the tough rules we have in place to ensure
its protection are properly enforced.
Clear shipping zones
and safe passages are in place for a reason
– to protect the Reef as well as ensure
the safety of those that navigate these
sometimes treacherous waters.
The Government will
not tolerate breaches of these tough regulations.
Minister O'Connor said
further information about the matter would
be provided, as appropriate, at the conclusion
of the AFP's investigation.
Last year the Government
strengthened the enforcement provisions
of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act.
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Huge new Indigenous
protected area in South Australia
Media release
13 April 2010
A huge new protected area in South Australia's
remote north will help protect one of the
state's most endangered species - the warru
or black-footed rock wallaby.
Environment Protection
Minister Peter Garrett congratulated traditional
owners and Indigenous rangers from the Anangu
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands
on today's declaration of the Kalka-Pipalyatjara
Indigenous Protected Area.
"This spectacular
landscape stretches from the Tomkinson and
Mann ranges dominating the north-west to
sand dune country in the south," Mr
Garrett said.
"Today's declaration
means 580,000 hectares of this country will
be managed by its traditional owners for
conservation. This is a significant addition
to the National Reserve System.
"The ranges in
the north provide a safe haven for one of
the few remaining colonies of black-footed
rock wallaby, with experts estimating only
about 100 of the mammals are left.
"Rangers are working
with the APY Land Management Unit in a Warru
Recovery Team to secure the future of this
culturally significant mammal.
"Today's declaration
creates a significant conservation corridor
of more than 12 million hectares across
state borders, as Kalka-Pipalyatjara connects
Ngaanyatjarra IPA in Western Australia and
the Watarru IPA in South Australia.
"It joins 37 other
declared Indigenous Protected Areas around
the nation - 13 of which, covering more
than 3 million hectares, have been announced
in the last year alone.
"Indigenous Protected
Areas are one of Australia's most successful
conservation stories - protecting Australia's
biodiversity while providing training and
employment for Aboriginal people doing work
to look after their own country."
Community leader and
ranger Kenneth Ken said today's declaration
would have a positive impact on the community's
young people, particularly their health,
education, training and job opportunities
- all part of Closing the Gap.
"Young people do
school in Adelaide - but they need something
when back in country. With Kalka-Pipalyatjara
we teach young people about bush, about
what looking after country is," he
said.
"We want to get
school kids out there working on it too
- teach younger people step by step, because
that is the way they learn, to look after
it.
"We need to look
after the warru, nganamara (mallee fowl)
and tjakura (great desert skink). We are
starting land management because these might
be dying out and we need to teach our kids."
For more on Indigenous Protected Areas visit
www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/ipa
+ More
Marine scientists inspect
Reef damage
Media release
12 April 2010
A team of marine scientists are now on site
and preparing for an inspection of the environmental
damage caused by the grounding of the Shen
Neng 1 on Douglas Shoal.
The environmental assessment
of the incident is being led by the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
with strong support from the Queensland
Department of Environment and Resource Management
and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Minister for Environment
Protection Peter Garrett said this includes
an initial exploration of the environmental
damage at the site.
"Ship groundings
can result in significant localised damage
to habitats. Groundings such as this often
leave grounding scars in the reef substrate
where the coral is crushed and compacted."
"I have requested
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
take the necessary steps to gather some
preliminary information as to the condition
of the impact site in the first instance."
"I am advised that
preparations are continuing to facilitate
the safe re-floating and removal of the
vessel from the shoal.
"However, this
initial inspection is an important early
step in assessing how this shipping incident
affected the shoal."
The environmental inspection
will initially comprise locating the different
areas of the damage zone including where
the ship first impacted the shoal, its path
between there and its current location.
The team will also be attempting to gather
photographic and video evidence of any damage.
Once the vessel is removed,
this will be followed by full mapping of
the damage zone, quantification of the damage
and sampling for pollutants.
"I anticipate the
assessment and monitoring of this site and
the other environmental impacts of this
grounding are likely to be ongoing,"
Mr Garret said.
"The Scientific
Advisory Panel I asked GBRMPA to establish
earlier this month, will review the information
from the environmental inspection and advise
on the next steps."
