The Hon Paul caica MP M.

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As you are a\rvare, the lifth and linal round of Marine Park Local Advisory Group (MPLAG) meetings is scheduled for late April and early May' MPLAGS will be asked to generate zonlng advice no later thao lhe iffh meeting, enabling Govemment to develop draft management plans with zoning forpubllc consultation later in 2011
As this wlll be the last MPLAG moeiing, ii is impoftant that members maxlmlse this opportunlty lo provide advice, The purpose of my lelter is to offer guidance on a range of issues which, ln my vlew, are important to the su6cess of the next round of meetings. Recently I participated in t'&o publlc intcrmalion days held in Adelalde ln whlch large maps containlng all cuffont MPLAG advics were displayed for the community to Yi6w snd discuss. The maps helped demonstrate how the community' thrcugh the MPLAGS, has been able to pmvide local zonlng advjce. I thank you for the rrvork you and your group.have done to date and I understand lhe challenging circumstances in which this work has been conducted'

Having viewed the MPLAG advice to dale, I am pleased to see good zoning suggestions emerglng in some area6, acknowledglng also that in other areas developing possible zoning outcomes is a signiflcant challenge and requires further
discusslon,

When draft management plans ara prepared later this year, I will seek to ensure I requirements of tie Mariie Patks Act 2oo7 are met, as well as the needs oJ I mmmunities, To assist MPLAGS to pmvide a competent proposal which balances I good oonservation outcomes with minimising economic and social I

lhe iocal impacts: _

. . . . .

to revisit the zoning cheokllsts provided to MPLAGS st the third meeting. The checklists help ensure the design principles are applied and a wll balanced result is achieved.
I encourags msmbers

I encourage members to reMsit the advice I proMded to help achieve adequate

sanctuary zones and competent conseryation outcomes. This is not lntended 1o be prescriplive guidance, but rather to show what ls considered a good outcome,

As you are aware, the Govemment is committed to minimising displacement of commercial and recreatlonal effon and has made numerous policy commitments to assisl ln aciieving this aim. I encourage memberE to conslder areas of lessor importance forfshing when developing zoning advice.

As you are also aware, the Govemment is required to pay fair and reasonable compensation to commercial flshers where their statutory rights have been affectd. The commercial fshing lnduslry has ben advised ofthe Govemmeni's policy position in relation to displaced commerclal effort.

The strength of MPLAGS lies in the diversity of their members, allhough I recognise thai this makes generating a uniied view dlftcult. Whlle I do not expect consensus out of MPLAGs, I advise that eflbrls lo minlmise numerous zoning
posillons will assist the Govemment to recognise a best-fit solution for your local community.

I encolrage Chairs and members to not allow debates about pmcess il distract you from this last opportunity to provide zoning advice. Some stakeholders have strenuously lobbied the Government to alter the process ot marine park development to a threats-based process. I have lislened to the argumerts and reaffm that the curent process as specified by N4arine Parks Act provides clear dlrection and is consistent with national and internalional best practice,

While not an issue in all groups, I have received reports that during zoning djsoussions some MPLAG members and gallery members have engaged in antagonlstc, sometimes inlimidating behaviour. Obviously ihis makes the task for
both Chairs and members unnecessarily more challenging.
I have asked the Departmenl of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to offsr additional support to the MPLAG meetings wherever needed, and I encourage you to

discuss any concerns about inappropriate ordisruplive behaviour with DENR staff.

At ihe fourth MPLAG meeting and subsequent workshops I am aware that some
members have sought clarifcatjon about how Government will work with their advice in developing drafl management plans. I reiterale the Governmenfs vlew that MPLAGS are a very important source of local advice. There are many other stakeholders too, whose advice must also be considered in developlng drafr management plans with zoning. The Govemmenfs task following the MPLAG process is to distil all advice and produce a competent draft management plan for each park for public consultation. Any consensus advlc reached by MPLAGS \^ould inevitably assist this process.

The Government belives ftat the MPLAG process assistE to engender community ownership of marine park zoning outcomes and community particlpation in ongoing park management Whlle the next MPLAG meeting wlll be your final meeling, lhave asked DENR to consider how members can contlnue to participate if they wish. lf you require any funhar information, or wish to dlscuss any matter further, please contact yor!' Executiv Officer or my ofllce directly. I e,ytend my best wishes for a successful flth round of MPLAG meetings. I am aware MPLAG Chairs have faced considerlble challenges in managing meelings and coping with the pressures of Iocal community expectalion. On bshalf of the Govemment, I believe Chairs have pErformed exceplionally well in dlfiicult circumstances and I agaln thank you for your voluntary cordribution to the marine parks process.
Yours sincerely

PAUL CAICA MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

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