Review of the Zoning Plan for the Moreton Bay Marine Park
The Queensland Government is undertaking a statutory review of the zoning plan for the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
Each marine park has a zoning plan that outlines the rules to manage the multiple uses of the park. The zoning plan defines the locations of different zones which in turn provide for different levels of protection and different uses.
The Moreton Bay Marine Park is a multiple use park, established in 1993 to protect the significant natural and cultural values of the marine park while providing opportunities for a range of different uses. The marine park’s first zoning plan was gazetted in 1997.
As subordinate legislation to the Marine Parks Act 2004, zoning plans are required to be reviewed every ten years as per the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 or otherwise expire.
A comprehensive review of the marine park’s first zoning plan informed development of the 2008 Zoning Plan, which resulted in enhancements to the protection and management of the parks natural and cultural values in 2008.
The 2008 zoning plan was remade ‘as is’ in 2019, with the current zoning plan - the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2019 - replacing the previous Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008.
A review of the current zoning plan is now underway to ensure that management of the marine park remains efficient and effective.
An overview of the zoning plan review process is outlined below:
Zoning plan review process
The review of the Moreton Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan is being conducted in five stages:
Information gathering (stage 1)
- Collate contemporary data and knowledge about the marine park’s natural, cultural, social and economic values.
Engagement with First Nations peoples and key stakeholders (stage 2)
- Engagement with First Nations peoples and key stakeholders to identify management issues and potential improvements to the management of the marine park – this is the current stage of the zoning plan review process.
Together, stage 1 and stage 2 will inform an assessment of the current zoning plan’s ability to conserve the marine environment and the various traditional, recreational and commercial uses it supports for future generations.
Draft revised zoning plan (stage 3)
- If changes are required, a draft revised zoning plan and associated Impact Analysis Statement will be developed for broad public consultation.
Public consultation (stage 4)
- The draft zoning plan and associated Impact Analysis Statement will be released for broad public consultation. All submissions received will be analysed, and this feedback will help inform any further changes that are needed in a final revised zoning plan to support the long-term conservation and use of the marine park.
Final revised zoning plan (stage 5)
- Informed by science and feedback received from consultation, a final revised zoning plan will be prepared and submitted for Government approval prior to it taking effect.
For more information email marine.policy@detsi.qld.gov.au.
Read more about the Moreton Bay Marine Park.