We would like to thank everyone who has supported this petition and contributed to the Review of the Great Sandy Marine Park.

Submissions have now closed for comment on the DRAFT re-zoning plan. Based on broad community engagement and feedback on 6.1.1.3 Option 3 – The preferred option that is reflected in the draft zoning plan RIS. Our submission requested the following changes be made : -

•We STRONGLY DISAGREE to the retention of tunnel netting in the Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Bay inlet Yellow Conservation Zone areas and commercial set pocket netting in the Mary River. There should be NO commercial netting in Yellow Conservation Park Zones.

• Remove the proposed MNP12 – green zone over the popular 4 Mile Reef mark. Instead, make this area Yellow in line with CPZ12. This is the only close, shallow offshore reef system in the Bundaberg region that is accessible by small boats and is a popular recreational fishing area.

• Modify proposed MNP11. We proposed allowing a 4 km gap between the current Northern boundary of MNP10 and the proposed MNP11 to allow recreational fishing access to important fishing marks in that area.

• Ensure that the upper tributaries of the creeks behind Moon Point are also included as CP zones

• MNP16 – Top of Big Wood Island – Modify the proposed green zone area to incorporate a CP Zone to allow recreational fishing access to this very popular area. Note: the area from and to the East of North Cardinal Marker back to AHT at the top of Big Woody Island and a 300-metre wide section along the North Western corner and side of Big Woody. 

• Upgrade protection to CP zone for the coastline of Platypus Bay, stretching from the Wathumba Creek area to Rooney Point, to bring it in line with the management objectives put in place for the adjacent K’gari World Heritage area and Great Sandy National Park (K’gari section). This recommendation is also consistent with the proposed Platypus Bay Area (PBA01).

• HPZ11 - Habitat Protection Zone in the Burrum River and Cherwell Rivers. While we understand that these areas have been changed from Yellow Conservation Zone areas to enable shoreline structures to be more easily approved, erected and maintained, like jetties etc. The Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan - Summary of Key Proposed Changes suggests that these areas, now shown as HPZ 11 covering the Upper reaches of Burrum River and Cherwell River, will EXCLUDE commercial fishing with large mesh gill nets and ring nets - WE NEED this to be FORMALISED and written in stone. This rule will also NEED to be applied to the "light blue" zones at Buxton and Walkers Point.

• THIS RULE around HPZ11 MUST ALSO BE APPLIED TO MPZ-13 around the iconic Urangan Pier as well.

• MNP 25 - Amend the Green Zone outside flats/mangrove areas around the entrance to Myers Creek to a Yellow Conservation Zone beyond the current MNP 24 as this is an important recreational fishing area accessed by small boar owners in sheltered waters.

• MNP 26 - Wolf Rock green zone be amended to allow recreational fishing access to the vitally important recreational fishing area at “The Pinnacles. This could be done with a Buffer Zone (BUZ).

• Maintain the existing non-conforming use permit system for commercial crab fishing in the Great Sandy Strait. The proposed removal of the permit system will enable other crab fishers to move into the area who may not demonstrate the necessary environmental stewardship and lead to localised depletions.

• Prohibition of beam trawling in the lower reaches of the Mary River.

We expect to see the FINAL plan released next February / March and will update you once we receive any new details.

Thanks

Scott Mitchell

Chairman FCFA