Media release
17 May 2010
Townsville's Reef
HQ Aquarium is set to benefit from a $4
million funding injection announced as part
of the $12 million investment through the
Budget to improve the resilience of the
Great Barrier Reef.
Environment Protection
Minister Peter Garrett toured Reef HQ Aquarium
in Townsville today to see first hand how
the funds will be used to facilitate a major
infrastructure upgrade the 22 year old facility.
"Reef HQ Aquarium
has been the National Education Centre for
the Great Barrier Reef for over 20 years
and we want to see it continue this vital
role for many years to come.
"Because of its
location in tropical north Queensland and
the inherent infrastructure stresses of
salt water aquariums, the facility requires
attention to ensure its operational effectiveness
and longevity.
"This $4 million
investment will support a major infrastructure
upgrade over two years that will ensure
the provision of world's best practice in
aquarium life support systems and improved
resilience for the world's largest living
captive reef environment," Mr Garrett
said.
The project includes
a new filtration system that utilises the
latest technology and will enhance water
quality in the tanks, extensive engineering
works to strengthen the floor to enable
additional displays and exhibits, a new
function space and new research infrastructure
to ensure Reef HQ can continue to build
on their provision of cutting edge research
in collaboration with academic institutions
and industry.
Mr Garrett said the
$4 million initiative is in addition to
$3.8 million over two years for improving
the Outlook of the Great Barrier Reef and
$4.2 million over two years to ensure the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
can effectively deliver on the Australian
Government's obligations under the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Act 1975.
"The $3.8 million
initiative to improve the outlook for the
Great Barrier Reef will provide funding
to expand the highly successful Reef Guardian
stewardship program.
"The funds will
be used to strengthen the existing Reef
Guardian Schools and Reef Guardian Council
programs to ensure their longer term sustainability
and to expand the Reef Guardian program
to provide opportunities for farmers and
fishers.
"As we’re doing
through the Reef Rescue program, these programs
will help drive the voluntary adoption of
environmentally sustainable best practices,”
Mr Garrett said.
The initiative also
includes funding for the improvement of
knowledge management systems that will provide
opportunities to share and build knowledge
to achieve critical environmental outcomes
for the reef.
+ More
John Scanlon appointed
Secretary-General of CITES
Joint media release
- Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister
for Environment Protection, Heritage and
the Arts
15 May 2010 - The Australian
Government welcomes the appointment of John
Scanlon to the position of Secretary-General
of the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES).
Mr Scanlon, who took
up his new post earlier this month, is the
first Australian to hold this internationally
prestigious position. In the International
Year of Biodiversity, it is an honour to
have an Australian in this role.
His appointment also
reflects the fact that Australia is at the
forefront of protecting biodiversity.
CITES aims to help protect
and conserve endangered wild animals and
plants by regulating their international
trade.
Entering into force
on 1 July 1975, CITES is one of the oldest
environment conservation conventions. Today
it has 175 member states, making it one
of the largest conservation agreements.
Australia has been a
signatory since 1976, and takes its responsibilities
under the Convention seriously.
Mr Scanlon has had a
distinguished international career. He has
previously held the positions of Strategic
Advisor to the World Commission on Dams
in Cape Town and Head of the Environment
Law Programme at the International Union
for Conservation of Nature.
Mr Scanlon was Australia’s
first independent Commissioner on the Murray
Darling Basin Commission, Chief Executive
of the Department of Environment, Heritage
and Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia
and has held several senior roles in New
South Wales, including Deputy Director-General
of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning
and Natural Resources.
Mr Scanlon is the fifth CITES Secretary-General.
We look forward to working with him in the
future.
