Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management Prepared by the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee John Bailey (Chair), Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee Rod Applegate, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Alastair Black, Darwin Port Corporation Kirsten Blair, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory Brendan Dowd, Local Government Association of the Northern Territory Anthony Ellis, Northern Territory Tourist Commission Eric Fejo/Donna Jackson, Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation John Harrison, Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory Greg Hill, Charles Darwin University Sue Jackson, Marine and Coastal Community Network Patrick O’Leary, Northern Land Council Peter Poole, Dover Investments Paul Styles, Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry Richard Sellers, Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Frank Tirendi, Australian Institute of Marine Science Chris Young, Perkins Shipping Pty Ltd Published in November 2003 as: Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee (2003). Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management. Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Darwin. Cover: The cover design and graphics for this document were provided by Marketing and Communications, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Darwin. FOREWORD MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR The Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee (DHAC) was appointed by the Minister for Lands and Planning, the Honourable Kon Vatskalis in August 2002. The DHAC was charged with the duty of overseeing the development and implementation of the Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management. Territorians clearly revere their harbour and want to see it well managed for future generations to enjoy. The Regional Plan of Management provides a framework for managing and enhancing our valuable harbour and catchment into the future. It also provides a basis for achieving an integrated decision making process and planning outcomes consistent with the Marine and Coastal Management Policy and National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development. The Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee’s role is strategic in nature. A range of issues have been identified in the Plan, with actions to address these allocated to relevant agencies, organisations and/or community groups. This Plan of Management will be a ‘living’ document, updated annually to provide us with an adaptive framework for management. The framework is intended to be responsive to changes in technical information, community and stakeholder needs, and to improvement in our understanding of our ecosystems and the way we monitor and report on them. The Plan provides us with an exciting opportunity to participate in the management and protection of our waterways. Releasing this plan will I hope prompt further public comment prior to the plan’s formal endorsement by Government. The Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee acknowledges that active involvement by the community is one of the greatest resources available in managing the region and encourages further public comment on the plan. I trust that the Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management will generate a real enthusiasm in Government, industry and community to continue to work cooperatively to implement actions and achieve the vision for Darwin Harbour and its catchment. Mr John Bailey Chair - Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary Section 1 – Introduction Valuing our region 1-1 The vision 1-2 The Plan in brief 1-3 The Darwin Harbour region 1-3 Goals and outcomes 1-5 The scope of the Plan 1-7 Northern Territory Marine and Coastal Management Policy 1-7 Current legislative framework for the Darwin Harbour region 1-8 Community consultation 1-9 Comment on the draft 1-10 Section 2 – Context and background information History of the Darwin Harbour region 2-1 The Larrakia perspective 2-6 People of the Darwin Harbour region 2-11 Economy of the Darwin Harbour region 2-18 Environment of the Darwin Harbour region 2-23 Darwin Harbour regional land use 2-35 Darwin Harbour regional issues 2-36 Section 3 – Managing the Darwin Harbour region Introduction 3-1 Goal 1 3-3 Goal 2 3-27 Goal 3 3-41 Goal 4 3-53 Goal 5 3-59 Section 4 – Implementation and integrated management Integrated management 4-1 Recommendations for integrated management and implementation 4-2 Implementation 4-9 Section 5 - Appendices Contributing members 5-1 Acknowledgments 5-2 References 5-3 Public consultation reports and supporting documents 5-7 Terms and abbreviations 5-8 Summary of legislation, policies and strategies 5-9 Summary of current activities 5-19 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee (DHAC) was appointed in August 2002, and charged with the duty of overseeing the development and implementation of the Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management. The role of the DHAC is strategic in nature, operating collaboratively with Government agencies, stakeholders and the community. The DHAC comprises government and community representatives, who have provided an ongoing conduit for community values and issues to be recognised in the formulation of the Plan. This Regional Plan of Management provides us with a vision for the future and a framework for managing, protecting and enhancing our valuable harbour and catchment. The Plan addresses critical issues for management and builds on the achievements of the past. While the harbour and its catchment encompass a range of distinctive and special environments that require protection, the region is subject to pressures and conflicts of use, which present a major challenge to government, industry and community. There is a strong desire for the harbour and its catchment to remain biologically productive, water quality and habitats to be protected, and recreational opportunities and the region’s tropical character to be maintained. The community also acknowledges that the harbour is a working port, servicing not just Darwin but northern Australia. Striking the balance between the conflicting uses and values, and addressing the complexities of planning in the region, is the central intent of the Plan. The Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management offers an adaptive, coordinated and integrated approach to management and planning within the harbour and catchment. The Northern Territory Marine and Coastal Management Policy is currently under review. The policy’s main objective is to enable an integrated approach to the management of the coastal and marine zones in the Northern Territory, based upon the sound principles of ecologically sustainable development. According to the policy, a range of regional plans will be developed, the Darwin Harbour Regional Plan of Management is the first of these. Five goals have been identified within the Darwin Harbour Plan of Management for sound management of the conflicting uses and values of the Darwin Harbour region. For each goal, there is a range of outcomes, which the plan will aim to achieve. Section 3 of the Plan lists strategies and actions to achieve the Plan’s outcomes and overall goals. An introduction to the plan (Section 1) and background information about the region (Section 2) precede Section 3. The five goals of the plan are: GOAL 1. To maintain a healthy environment Maintain and improve water quality and ecological health of the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments in the region. Improve our understanding of our environment, through research and monitoring, to inform management. GOAL 2. To support recreational use and enjoyment of the environment Manage and enhance the quality of our leisure time, and promote community pride through the maintenance of our scenic values and the region’s unique character. GOAL 3. To encourage ecologically sustainable development Sustain and manage the demands and impacts of tourism, transport, aquaculture, horticulture, urban development and other commercial uses of the harbour and catchment. GOAL 4. To protect cultural values and heritage Maintain and protect cultural uses, and sites of cultural and heritage value. Acknowledge indigenous interests, values and concerns and indigenous people’s innate connection with the Darwin Harbour region. GOAL 5. To foster community ownership and participation in management Engage the community in the development and implementation of the Plan. Inform the public of current management and monitoring actions, issues, and the health of the environment. A range of key strategies and actions has been developed to realise the vision for the harbour and its catchment. These include: Actions to improve our understanding and knowledge of the region’s environment, notably monitoring and research; Protecting and enhancing freshwater, estuarine and marine water quality through a range of management measures; Protecting the health and functioning of ecosystems and conserving biodiversity; Importantly, identifying and managing significant species and ecosystems; Protecting and enhancing recreational amenity and opportunity; Promoting ecologically sustainable harvesting and fishing. Improving our knowledge of recreational and traditional fishing activities and fisheries to ensure sustainability; Protecting the diverse range of aesthetic values of the region; Effectively planning and managing future development, and enhancing public participation in the process; Supporting ecologically sustainable development; Promoting ecologically sustainable use of freshwater in the Darwin Harbour region; Managing sites of cultural, spiritual and heritage significance.