While GBRMP Regulations specify a range of required inclusions in

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 76 Design of permit conditions to manage risks

4.17 Permit conditions are the primary means through which risks identified

during permit application assessments are addressed or mitigated. Overall, most permit conditions have been satisfactorily designed to address many of the identified high or medium-rated risks. Nevertheless, some conditions do not sufficiently address all aspects of some risks—for example, some conditions focus on GBRMPA’s ability to take corrective action should the risks materialise, rather than on preventing the occurrence of risk events. The regular review of standard permit conditions attached to common permit types would provide GBRMPA with additional assurance that significant risks to the Marine Park are being appropriately managed. Permits to new applicants

4.18 The permissions and conditions included in permits issued to new

applicants were generally relevant to the permitted activities that were sought. Of the 26 permits to new applicants examined by the ANAO, 25 96.2 per cent contained all relevant permissions and associated conditions, although one permit did not grant access to a location requested by the applicant where activities such as those to be conducted by the applicant can occur. 81 In addition, 10 permits to new applicants contained permissions not requested by the applicants—relating to provision for ‘special charters’ 82 and the types of activities the permit holders could undertake under their permits. GBRMPA did not: • document in the permit application assessments the rationale for including permissions and related conditions that had not been requested by the applicants; and • draw applicants’ attention to, or provide the rationale for, the inclusion of permissions in permits that were not requested when informing applicants that their permits had been granted. 81 Correspondence between GBRMPA and the applicant regarding the location of the activity was evident during the permit application assessment process. However, the assessment does not document why all locations ultimately requested by the applicant were not included in the issued permit. 82 Special Charter Program conditions, which were introduced by GBRMPA for vessel and aircraft Marine Park permits from 2012, allow permit holders to transport GBRMPA personnel and others so that they can undertake Marine Park management activities or other specified activities permitted or allowed under the Zoning Plan.