Shark Bay to have greater protection following State and Commonwealth agreement

12/9/97

The World Heritage values of Western Australia's Shark Bay will receive a higher level of protection following an agreement between the State and Federal governments.

WA Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes and Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill today signed a new administrative agreement for the Shark Bay World Heritage Property.

The agreement ensures that the management of Shark Bay will be consistent with the protection, conservation and presentation of the property's outstanding universal values.

It also clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of both the WA and Commonwealth Governments in relation to management of the area.

Senator Hill has praised the new agreement saying it will provide a model for Commonwealth-State management for all world heritage areas.

"The most important aspect of the agreement is that management plans for Shark Bay must be consistent with the World Heritage Convention. It therefore will ensure a high level of protection for Shark Bay's world heritage values," he said.

"All Australians have a vital interest in the protection of this unique area."

Mrs Edwardes said that the agreement provided for a co-operative management approach which clearly defined the respective roles of the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments.

"The agreement recognises both the interest of the Commonwealth in discharging Australia's obligations under the Convention and the fact that WA has primary management responsibility for the Shark Bay World Heritage Property.

"It also provides for continuing involvement by the local community in the management of Shark Bay."

A key feature of the agreement is that it expressly provides for the accreditation of State management plans by the Commonwealth where such plans ensure the protection of world heritage values.

Other key features in the new agreement include:

·         a statement of values for which the Property is World Heritage listed;

·         a full description of the Property boundary;

·         provisions for a Ministerial Council and community and scientific advisory committees;

·         consideration of compensation in respect of the impacts of decisions to protect the World Heritage values of the property;

·         the development of Strategic Plan for the Shark Bay World Heritage Property, which is subject to the approval of both governments;

·         more detailed management plans to be developed under WA legislation;

·         a general framework for funding of management of the Property; and -

·         a section on environmental protection which describes how proposals will be assessed under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The agreement also sets out an agreed process for addressing the issue of whether petroleum exploration and extraction is compatible with the protection of world heritage values in the Shark Bay.

Mrs Edwardes has announced she will be asking the WA Environmental Protection Authority to conduct an assessment of the potential impacts associated with petroleum exploration and development in Shark Bay. The EPA will provide policy advice under Section 16(e) of the Act, which includes an extensive public consultation process.

Mrs Edwardes says the Commonwealth would be part of the process.

"The process is very much a joint process. The Commonwealth will be fully involved in key aspects of the process, including settling terms of reference," she said.

"The outcomes of the assessment conducted under Section 16(e) of the Act will be referred to the Ministerial Council for a decision on petroleum activities in the Shark Bay World Heritage Property.

"Shark Bay is an area of international conservation significance and I share the community concern that this unique environment be protected and managed effectively."

Shark Bay was inscribed on the World Heritage List for its outstanding natural values. It contains important natural habitats for many rare, vulnerable or threatened species of plants and animals, including five of Australia's endangered mammals. It is also an outstanding example of earth's evolution and contains superlative natural phenomena, such as the Hamelin Pool stromatolites which represent the oldest form of life on earth.

Media contacts: Minister Edwardes, Diana Russell Coote 08 9421 7777

Senator Hill, Matt Brown 02 6277 7640