Wet tropics
Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993
This Act proclaimed in November 1993 includes many components of an agreement reached between the Prime Minister of Australia and the Premier of Queensland on 16 November 1990 for the protection and management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.The Act formally establishes a Wet Tropics Management Authority The Authority is the organisation charged to fulfil Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention for this unique area of outstanding universal value. The Area covers some 900 000 hectares in north Queensland including almost 700 land parcels (freehold, leasehold, local government, State and federal government lands).
The Authority is headed by a Board of Directors comprising five part-time directors nominated by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments and an Executive Director as a full-time non voting member.
The Board of Directors reports to a Wet Tropics Ministerial Council and makes decisions and recommendations on all matters relating to the management of the World Heritage Area including policy, program and funding matters. Its main responsibility is to implement Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention. The Board of Directors is serviced by the staff of the Wet Tropics Management Authority and is advised by a Community Consultative Committee, a Rainforest Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and a Scientific Advisory Committee.
The Act specifies the Authority's functions as:
(a) develop and implement policies and programs in relation to the management of the Wet Tropics Area;
(b) formulate performance indicators for the implementation of policies and programs approved by the Ministerial Council;
(c) advise and make recommendations to the Minister and the Ministerial Council in relation to:
(i) the management of the Wet Tropics Area; and
(ii) Australia’s obligation under the World Heritage Convention in relation to the Wet Tropics Area;
(d) prepare and ensure the implementation of management plans for the Wet Tropics Area;
(e) administer funding arrangements in relation to the Wet Tropics Area;
(f) enter into, and facilitate the entering of, co-operative management agreements (including joint management agreements) with landholders, Aboriginal people particularly concerned with land in the Wet Tropics Area and other persons;
(g) enter into arrangements for the provision of rehabilitation and restoration works in relation to any land in the Wet Tropics Area;
(h) gather, research, analyse and disseminate information on the Wet Tropics Area;
(i) develop public and community education programs in relation to the Wet Tropics Area;
(j) promote the Wet Tropics Area locally, nationally and internationally,
(k) liaise with the Governments and authorities of the State, the Commonwealth, other States and the Territories, and international and foreign organisations and agencies;
(l) monitor the state of the Wet Tropics Area; and
(m) advise and report to the Minister and the Ministerial Council on the state of the Wet Tropics Area.
Parts of the Act provide for the preparation and adoption of management plans, provide for compensation, and establish administration, investigation, enforcement and legal procedures.
The Act prohibits destroying native plants and any other acts prescribed under a management plan or regulation. The maximum penalty for breaches is 3000 penalty units or two years' jail.
Schedules give details of the management scheme and the United Nations' Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Wet Tropics Management Plan 1998
This Plan regulates a range of activities in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area which have the potential to impact on World Heritage values. Activities regulated include keeping of undesirable plants and animals, interfering with earth or watercourses, building infrastructure, disposing of waste and operating motor vehicles.Last updated: 28 April 2005
