Federal Minister for Environment Greg Hunt has formally issued orders to amend legislation to ban the granting of permissions for the disposal of capital dredge spoil material in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The ban will be implemented through the amendment to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.
He said “we are ending a century old practice for dumping in the Marine Park”.
“This is a significant step towards improving and protecting the Marine Park for current and future generations”.
The ban was formally announced by Minister Hunt at the World Parks Congress in Sydney on 12 November 2014.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will commence public consultation shortly and it is anticipated that the final approval by Minister Hunt, following the consultation, will occur in mid March 2015.
The Minister is seeking to have the regulation take effect before the end of this financial year.
