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Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

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Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area R E P O R T Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Prepared for Directorate of Environmental Stewardship, Department of Defence 18 January 2006 URS Australia Pty Ltd Level 3, 20 Terrace Road East Perth Western Australia 6004 Job No.: 42905981-1892 Tel.: (08) 9221 1630; Fax: (08) 9221 1639 Report No.: R1169 E-mail: [email protected] Ref: DK:M&C2436/PER ABN 46 000 691 690 Prepared by: Tony Rouphael Senior Environmental Scientist URS Australia Pty Ltd Reviewed by: John Polglaze Principal Environmental Scientist URS Australia Pty Ltd Authorised by: Ian LeProvost Senior Principal Environment URS Australia Pty Ltd Level 3, 20 Terrace Road East Perth WA 6004 Australia Date: 18 January 2006 Reference: 42905981-1892 / R1169 Status: Final TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................ix 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................1 1.1 BACKGROUND............................................................................................. 1 1.2 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT..................................... 3 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................... 3 1.4 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................... 4 1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................... 4 1.6 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT ................................................................. 5 1.7 METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................... 6 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 Aspects .............. 7 1.7.5 Liaison and Consultation.................................................................... 7 2. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK.......................................8 2.1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................... 8 2.2 COMMONWEALTH VERSUS STATE/TERRITORY WATERS ............... 9 2.3 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS.................... 10 2.3.1 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.................................... 10 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 Protocol ............................................................................................ 11 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 Agreements........................................ 16 2.4 PRINCIPAL COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATION................................... 17 2.4.1 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975........................................ 17 2.4.1.1 GBRWHA Zoning Scheme............................................. 18 2.4.1.2 Defence Activities in Relation to the Zoning Plan.......... 19 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 GBRMP .......................... 21 2.4.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Regulations....................................................................................... 23 Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in the GBRWHA URS Ref: 42905981-1892 / R1169 / DK:M&C2436/PER Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 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 Management ...................................... 33 2.4.2.8 Annual reporting ............................................................. 33 2.4.3 Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution From Ships) Act 1983 ........................................................................................................ 34 2.4.4 Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 .......................... 34 2.4.5 Quarantine Act 1908 ........................................................................ 34 2.4.6 Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.......................................................... 34 2.5 GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK AUTHORITY POLICIES AND GUIDELINES...................................................................................... 35 2.5.1 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Policy for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park...................................................................................... 35 2.5.2 Zoning and Plans of Management.................................................... 36 2.6 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS ......... 36 2.6.1 Defence Environment Policy............................................................ 37 2.6.2 Departmental Environment Instructions .......................................... 37 2.6.3 Environmental Assessment within the Defence Organisation ......... 38 2.6.4 Defence Instructions......................................................................... 38 2.6.5 Other Instructions, Guidelines and Directives.................................. 40 2.7 PRINCIPAL QUEENSLAND LEGISLATION ........................................... 42 3. DEFENCE PRESENCE IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION..............................................................................................48 3.1 OVERVIEW.................................................................................................. 48 3.2 DEFENCE PRACTICE AREAS AND BASING ......................................... 48 3.2.1 Bases ................................................................................................ 49 3.2.2 Defence Practice Areas .................................................................... 50 3.3 HISTORY OF USE....................................................................................... 51 3.4 MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL............................................................. 52 3.4.1 Defence Management and Control of Activities in the GBR DPA.. 52 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 Procedures.......................................... 55 3.4.5 Current Environmental Management of DPA.................................. 55 3.4.6 Training and Awareness................................................................... 57 3.4.7 Public Engagement........................................................................... 57 Strategic Environmental Assessment of Defence Activities in the GBRWHA URS Ref: 42905981-1892 / R1169 / DK:M&C2436/PER Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.4.8 Defence Sponsored Environmental Research .................................. 58 3.4.9 Management and Control Responsibilities Exercised by Queensland and Queensland Government Agencies .......................................... 59 3.5 ADF USE OF THE GBR REGION .............................................................. 60 3.5.1 Assets Employed Within or Near the GBRWHA ............................ 60 3.5.1.1 Royal Australian Navy.................................................... 60 3.5.1.2 Royal Australian Air Force............................................. 65 3.5.1.3 Australian Army.............................................................. 67 3.5.1.4 DSTO and DMO ............................................................. 69 3.5.1.5 Defence Support Contractors.......................................... 69 3.5.1.6 Allied Forces................................................................... 70 3.5.2 ADF Activities Conducted Within GBRWHA and Contiguous Areas ........................................................................................................ 70 3.5.3 Patterns and Annual Cycles of Use .................................................. 73 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 ENVIRONMENTS......................76 4.1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................... 76 4.2 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................
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