The
37th session of the World Heritage Committee is sitting in the Kingdom of
Cambodia, in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap-Angkor, from 16th to 27th June 2013.
The
37th session is organized by UNESCO and the National Commission of Cambodia
with the support of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Last week the World Heritage Committee
has delayed its decision on whether to list the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in
danger’.
The Federal Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC
Act) provides an overarching mechanism for protecting the World Heritage values
from inappropriate development, including actions taken inside or outside which
could impact on its heritage values. This requires any development proposals to
undergo rigorous environmental impact assessment processes, often including
public consultation, after which the Federal Minister may decide, to approve,
reject or approve under conditions designed to mitigate any significant
impacts.
A recent amendment to the EPBC Act makes the GBR
Marine Park an additional 'trigger' for a matter of National Environmental
Significance which provides additional protection for the values within the
GBR.
The Qld Government has welcomed the
opportunity to continue our initiatives while further considerations are made over
the next year.
The 2009
Outlook Report identified the long-term challenges facing the GBR; these
are dominated by climate change over the next few decades.
The extent and persistence of damage to
the GBR ecosystem will depend to a large degree on the amount of change in the
world’s climate and on the resilience of the GBR ecosystem to such change. This
report also identified continued declining water quality from land-based
sources, loss of coastal habitats from coastal development, and some impacts
from fishing, illegal fishing and poaching as the other priority issues
requiring management attention for the long-term protection of the GBR.
Emerging issues since the 2009 Outlook
Report include proposed port expansions, increases in shipping activity,
coastal development and intensification and changes in land use within the GBR
catchment; population growth; the impacts from marine debris; illegal
activities; and extreme weather events including floods and cyclones.
Further building the resilience of the
GBR by improving water quality, reducing the loss of coastal habitats and
increasing knowledge about fishing and its effects and encouraging modified
practices, will give the GBR its best chance of adapting to and recovering from
the threats ahead, including the impacts of a changing climate.
The Qld Government is attempting to
address UNESCO’s concerns and deliver on their recommendations.
They include:
· Establishing a scientific panel to monitor Gladstone
Harbour as part of a $4 million Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership,
· Committing $35 million each year for reef
protection and improved water quality,
· Releasing a draft Ports Strategy that clearly
states our intention to limit port development to existing areas.
The Qld Government has implemented a best
management practice programs with the agricultural industry to reduce nutrient
run off and improve water quality.
