The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority GBRMPA was

ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 13

6. Incorporated bodies and individuals intending to undertake particular

activities within the Marine Park are required to obtain permission from GBRMPA prior to their commencement, including for: • most commercial activities, such as tourist programs; • the installation and operation of structures, such as jetties, marinas, pontoons, and moorings; • any significant works, such as dredging and spoil dumping; and • educational and research programs. 9

7. GBRMPA and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service QPWS

10 operate a joint application and permit assessment process for most permit requests that cover both the Marine Park and Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. The permit application forms that are submitted by prospective permit holders are generally subjected to a desk-top assessment by GBRMPA’s Environmental Assessment and Protection EAP Section, with input to be provided by QPWS, specialist GBRMPA staff and other third-parties, as required.

8. The approvals granted by GBRMPA and QPWS where applicable

allow permit holders to undertake regulated activities in both the Commonwealth and state marine parks, subject to the conditions attached to approved permits. While permit approvals for new applicants are generally issued for one year, multi-year permits are available for incorporated bodies and individuals seeking the replacement of an expiring permit for example, up to six years for most tourism operations. Permits have been granted for longer periods—up to 15 years—in the case of tourism operators recognised as high standard tourism operators and some facilitiesworksstructures.

9. Over the 10 years from 2004–05 to 2013–14, GBRMPA issued

4296 permits excluding permit transfers containing 6337 individual permissions. 11 As at August 2014, 1334 Marine Park permits containing 2408 individual permissions were current—85.8 per cent of which related to 9 Most visitors to the Marine Park do not require a permit for recreational activities. 10 QPWS is part of the Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing NPSR. 11 Each permit may contain one or more individual permissions to undertake specified activities. ANAO Report No.3 2015–16 Regulation of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permits and Approvals 14 tourism operations 1488, operating a facility or mooring 311 and research activities 267.

10. The monitoring of permit holders’ compliance with permit conditions

is to be undertaken through a combination of: • desk-based compliance monitoring and targeted site inspections by the EAP Section; and • vessel, aerial and land-based patrolssurveillance by GBRMPA and its partner agencies under the Joint Field Management Program. 12

11. Any allegations of, or incidents relating to, non-compliance with permit

conditions may be subject to investigation by GBRMPA primarily by its Field Management Compliance Unit 13 or the EAP Section. Where non-compliance is established, GBRMPA may take enforcement action against non-compliant permit holders, which can include advisory letters, infringement notices, prosecution and the suspensionrevocation of permits. In the period from July 2012 to June 2014, there were 76 reported breaches of GBRMP permit conditions, which resulted in 59 investigations— with the issuing of advisory letters in 35 cases being the most common enforcement response. Audit objective and criteria

12. The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Great

Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s regulation of permits and approvals within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

13. To form a conclusion against this objective, the ANAO adopted the

following high-level criteria: • an effective process to assess permit applications and attach enforceable conditions has been established; 12 The Joint Field Management Program has been established by the Australian and Queensland governments to undertake conservation activities and monitor activity in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and land catchment. The Program comprises officers from GBRMPA and QPWS, supported by partner agencies, including Border Protection Command, Queensland Boating and Fishing Patrol and the Queensland Police Service. 13 The FMCU, funded under the Joint Field Management Program, comprises officers from GBRMPA and QPWS that coordinate and undertake investigation and enforcement activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.