Recommendations to improve Reef plan

Published: 14 October 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Council would like to see an independent review of management structures, along with a quantification of future Federal and Queensland government investment should be part of a new long-term strategy to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Council has made 16 recommendations on the updated Draft Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, Australia’s overarching long-term strategy for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef to support its health and resilience.

While there is support for the vision of the plan – The Great Barrier Reef is sustained as a living natural and cultural wonder of the world – Council recommended that the vision be reframed to inspire urgent action in the short to medium term from all stakeholders.

Recommendations made in Council’s submission included:

Quantify and confirm the future investment that will be made by the Australian and Queensland Governments in the Draft Plan’s priority work areas over the period 2020 to 2025.Include as a strategic action a detailed independent review of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Wet Tropics Rainforest (WTR) management structures and GBR/WTR funding (quantum and structure) requirements for the long-term management and preservation of these critical ecosystems.Acknowledge the potential benefits to the GBR of pursuing a ‘Green Economy’ objective.Include support for local governments to work in conjunction with Traditional Owners on catchment and coastal management.