Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in

2,08
MB the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

198
stron

6233
ID URS Australia Pty Ltd

2006
rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYix

1. INTRODUCTION.1

1.1 BACKGROUND.1

1.2 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.3

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.3

1.4 METHODOLOGY4

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.4

1.6 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT.5

1.7 METHODOLOGY6

1.7.1 Review of Existing Information.6

1.7.2 Description of the Environment.6

1.7.3 Analysis of Authority and Responsibility, and Planning Procedures.6

1.7.4 Defence Activities and Associated Environmental Aspects7

1.7.5 Liaison and Consultation7

2. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK.8

2.1 INTRODUCTION.8

2.2 COMMONWEALTH VERSUS STATE/TERRITORY WATERS.9

2.3 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS10

2.3.1 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 198210

2.3.2 World Heritage Convention.11

2.3.3 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

1972 (London Convention) and the 1996 Protocol11

2.3.4 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 as modified by its

Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78)12

2.3.5 Other Relevant International Agreements16

2.4 PRINCIPAL COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION.17

2.4.1 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 197517

2.4.1.1 GBRWHA Zoning Scheme.18

2.4.1.2 Defence Activities in Relation to the Zoning Plan19

2.4.1.3 Relationship of the GBRWHA with the GBRMP.19

2.4.1.4 Environmental impact assessment and approvals.20

2.4.1.5 Regulation of activities in the GBRMP21

2.4.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Regulations.23

2.4.2.1 Background.23

2.4.2.2 Objectives.24

2.4.2.3 Environmental Assessment and Approval under the EPBC Act.25

2.4.2.4 Biological conservation.29

2.4.2.5 Whale protection.30

2.4.2.6 Commonwealth Reserve Areas.32

2.4.2.7 National Heritage Management33

2.4.2.8 Annual reporting.33

2.4.3 Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution From Ships) Act 198334

2.4.4 Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 198134

2.4.5 Quarantine Act 190834

2.4.6 Historic Shipwrecks Act 197634

2.5 GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY POLICIES AND GUIDELINES35

2.5.1 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Policy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park35

2.5.2 Zoning and Plans of Management36

2.6 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS.36

2.6.1 Defence Environment Policy37

2.6.2 Departmental Environment Instructions37

2.6.3 Environmental Assessment within the Defence Organisation.38

2.6.4 Defence Instructions.38

2.6.5 Other Instructions, Guidelines and Directives40

2.7 PRINCIPAL QUEENSLAND LEGISLATION.42

3. DEFENCE PRESENCE IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION48

3.1 OVERVIEW48

3.2 DEFENCE PRACTICE AREAS AND BASING.48

3.2.1 Bases49

3.2.2 Defence Practice Areas50

3.3 HISTORY OF USE.51

3.4 MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL.52

3.4.1 Defence Management and Control of Activities in the GBR DPA52

3.4.2 Declaration and Gazettal Process.53

3.4.3 Programming of Activities in the GBR DPA.54

3.4.4 Range Clearance and Safety Procedures55

3.4.5 Current Environmental Management of DPA55

3.4.6 Training and Awareness.57

3.4.7 Public Engagement.57

3.4.8 Defence Sponsored Environmental Research58

3.4.9 Management and Control Responsibilities Exercised by Queensland and Queensland

Government Agencies59

3.5 ADF USE OF THE GBR REGION60

3.5.1 Assets Employed Within or Near the GBRWHA60

3.5.1.1 Royal Australian Navy60

3.5.1.2 Royal Australian Air Force.65

3.5.1.3 Australian Army67

3.5.1.4 DSTO and DMO.69

3.5.1.5 Defence Support Contractors69

3.5.1.6 Allied Forces.70

3.5.2 ADF Activities Conducted Within GBRWHA and Contiguous Areas70

3.5.3 Patterns and Annual Cycles of Use73

3.5.3.1 Individual Unit Activities and Small to Medium Exercises.73

3.5.3.2 Major Exercises.74

4. THE GREAT BARRIER REEF WORLD HERITAGE AREA AND CONTIGUOUS AREAS:

EXISTING ENVIRONMENTS76

4.1 INTRODUCTION.76

4.2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT76

4.2.1 The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area76

4.2.1.1 Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Values76

4.2.1.2 Biophysical Environment80

4.2.1.3 Marine habitats81

4.2.1.4 Marine Biota.82

4.2.1.5 Terrestrial Habitats87

4.2.1.6 Sensitive Marine Areas and Listed EPBC Act Marine Species87

4.2.1.7 Socio-economic Environment.89

4.2.2 Islands within GBR DPA.91

4.2.2.1 Introduction.91

4.2.2.2 Shoalwater Bay Group92

4.2.2.3 Halifax Bay Group94

4.2.2.4 Barnard Group95

4.2.3 The Coral Sea.97

4.2.3.1 Biophysical Environment97

4.2.3.2 Marine habitats98

4.2.3.3 Marine biota99

4.2.3.4 Terrestrial habitats.101

4.2.3.5 Sensitive Marine Areas and Listed EPBC Act Marine Species102

4.2.3.6 Socio-economic environment of the Coral Sea.102

4.2.4 The Torres Strait.103

4.2.4.1 Biophysical Environment103

4.2.4.2 Marine habitats104

4.2.4.3 Marine biota105

4.2.4.4 Terrestrial habitats.107

4.2.4.5 Sensitive Marine Areas and Listed EPBC Act Marine Species107

4.2.4.6 Socio-economic environment of the Coral Sea.107

4.2.5 Southeast Queensland Sea Areas.109

4.2.5.1 Biophysical environment109

4.2.5.2 Marine habitats110

4.2.5.3 Marine biota111

4.2.5.4 Terrestrial habitats.113

4.2.5.5 Sensitive Marine Areas and Listed EPBC Act Marine Species114

4.2.5.6 Socio-economic environment.115

5. MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF WORLD HERITAGE AREA118

5.1 INTRODUCTION.118

5.2 RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANT AREAS,

COMMUNITIES AND SPECIES.118

5.2.1 Management of The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park118

5.2.2 Conservation Management of Marine Species and Communities119

5.2.3 Exotic Species122

5.2.3.1 Introduced marine pest risks.122

5.2.3.2 Terrestrial quarantine risks123

6. RISKS TO GBRWHA VALUES FROM DEFENCE ACTIVITIES124

6.1 INTRODUCTION.124

6.2 DEFENCE ACTIVITIES IN THE GBRWHA.124

6.2.1 Potential Receptors and Their Sensitivities127

6.3 QUALITATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT OF DEFENCE ACTIVTIES IN THE GBRWHA.128

6.4 RISK TO GBRWHA VALUES129

6.4.1 Risks to Cetaceans and Other Sensitive Marine Fauna132

6.4.2 Cumulative and Persistent Impacts134

6.4.3 Public Perception135

6.4.4 EPBC Act Implications136

6.4.5 Implications of Defence Activities for World Heritage Values.137

6.4.6 Potential Environmental Effects of Other Human Activities in the GBRWHA138

7. CONCLUSIONS140

8. CONSULTATION AND PROJECT STAFF.143