The Departmentof Environment and Resource Management has extended the consultation period for theDraft Hinchinbrook Area Island and Marine Management Plan by a further six weeks.

Minister for Environment Vicky Darling today announced the community would now have until Friday 9 December to provide feedback to the Draft Plan.

"The Hinchinbrook area is a beautiful part of Queensland and I'm not surprised people have views on how best to manage it," Ms Darling said.

"It is clear that there is strong community feeling about the way this area is managed, and we want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have a say.

"We have already received 39 submissions on the Draft Plan but it is important that everyone has the opportunity to fully consider what is being proposed and give their feedback.

"It is critical that the community is fully aware of what is being proposed and, equally, what is not being proposed.

"There has been concern expressed about the lack of consultation on the draft plan - in fact there has been considerable consultation but I want to continue this consultation to get everyone's ideas."

The release of the draft plan was advertised from 23 July 2011 in seven State and local newspapers and flyers were also posted out to more than 180 people and organisations, including Cardwell Sport Fishing Club, Hinchinbrook Sport Fishing Club, Tully and District Sport Fishing Club, Mission Beach Game Fishing Club and Ingham Rod and Reel.

Opportunities for interested people to meet with relevant QPWS officers have been provided.

Over 100 people from Ingham, Cardwell, Mission Beach and other areas have attended public meetings.

QPWS officers have also discussed the draft plan and consultation directly with a number of people who have publicly expressed concerns.

Access to fishing areas

The Draft Plan does not propose locking up fishing areas. In fact, it supports sustainable fishing into the future.

It supports enforcing the existing prohibition on fishing in freshwater areas and in Channel 9 (Missionary Bay) on Hinchinbrook Island. All other estuarine creeks on Hinchinbrook Island are available for fishing, as well as the adjacent marine park where zoning allows fishing.

The draft plan proposes that the impacts of activities, such as fishing, that affect natural and cultural resources be monitored and management arrangements adapted where necessary. This may include further closures to fishing in creeks on Hinchinbrook Island. The draft plan proposes that this would not occur without appropriate consultation with other relevant government departments and stakeholders such as fishing organisations.

The plan does support the protection of nesting, feeding and resting birds by continuing existing restricted access areas (RAA). These existing RAAs are in effect all year for Brook Islands National Park and seasonally from 1 October to 31 March for Purtaboi and Eva islands.

It is proposed to extend the restricted access areas to include the intertidal areas of the marine park adjacent to these island national parks where birds feed and rest. However it would not constrain fishing where marine park zoning allows it.

The draft plan also proposes converting Woln-Garin and Pee-Rahm-Ah islands - currently unallocated state land - to protected area estate. These islands are generally rocky and are rarely accessed by visitors.

Halifax Bay Wetlands National Park

Halifax Bay Wetlands National Park is not included in the draft plan.

Dungeness dredging and rock wall

Dungeness is within the dugong protection area.

The draft plan proposes that there be no further hard structures such as rock walls to protect eroding areas and that coastal development and marine works such as dredging should not occur in the dugong protection area.

The department is keen to hear from the community about their views on the need for dredging and erosion protection measures.

Speed limits in the transit lane for Hinchinbrook Channel and Missionary Bay

Dugongs and turtles are facing significant pressures following a decline in seagrass across the State in the wake of successive cyclonic events and flooding. Voluntary compliance with the transit lanes and routes and boat speeds continues to be a key strategy in the protection of marine species in the Hinchinbrook Area.

Voluntary transit lanes and routes and boat speeds for Hinchinbrook Channel and Missionary Bay were introduced in 2000 to protect marine animals such as dugong, dolphins and turtles.

The voluntary boat speeds are 25 knots in the transit lanes and routes, 10 knots when over seagrass areas outside the transit lanes and routes and 10 knots when near marine animals such as dugongs, dolphins and turtles.

Where vessels need to travel closer to the island due to safety concerns, they may do so.

The draft plan suggests there may be a need to consider enforcing the transit lanes and routes and boat speeds.

The draft management plan is available on the DERM website www.derm.qld.gov.au or can be obtained from Department of Environment and Resource Management business centres or by phoning 13 QGOV (13 74 68) during business hours.

Submissions can be emailed to or posted to:

The Manager, Planning Services Unit

Conservation, Strategy and Planning

Department of Environment and Resource Management

Level 4, 400 George Street

GPO Box 2454

Brisbane QLD 4001

Environment

The Honourable Vicky Darling

28/10/2011