Sydney marine park process underway

Community consultation for the future management of the Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion, which encompasses the most popular coastal waterways in the country from Newcastle to Shellharbour and in the Sydney region, is well underway.

Input for the risk and threat assessment assessment is being sought from the public and the web portal for that shuts down on August 28. So get on it.

Have your say now and let the Marine Estate Management Authority (MEMA) know how you value and use the waterways in the Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion.

What are your favourite spots to visit? How do you enjoy or benefit from the marine and coastal environment? What threatens these benefits? How do you think we can better manage those threats?

Your comments are important to the future of your enjoyment and access to the Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion.

COMMENT THIS WAY
When you visit the portal, you have two options on how to comment:

1. You can comment on any of the 11 pre-identified sites and the remaining 4 aquatic reserves and/or identify and comment on any additional sites you think are important by simply clicking on the map at those sites.

11 PRIORITY SITES... AND MORE?
Eleven sites in the Hawkesbury marine
bioregion have already been identified for priority assessment and the
community is invited to nominate additional sites via the web portal
that they would like to see considered:
>> Barrenjoey Head (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> Bouddi National Park Marine Extension
>> Bronte-Coogee (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> Cape Banks (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> Chowder Bay
>> Long Reef (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> Narrabeen Head (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> North Harbour (an existing Aquatic Reserve)
>> North Harbour extension – Manly Wharf and Manly Cove
>> Magic Point, Malabar
>> Wybung Head

Or

2. You can make a general comment about the Hawkesbury Shelf marine bioregion

If you have multiple sites or activities that you would like to comment on, you can either make a general comment or click on as many sites as you want.  You will need to fill out a separate form at each site.

INFO USED FOR?
MEMA says the information you provide will be used to inform the threat and risk assessment for the bioregion (in addition to expert information) which will help to identify and prioritise threats to be managed.

The collated information will also be used to assist in reviewing existing management arrangements and assist in identifying opportunities to improve management.

The survey includes an option to provide your email contact. We would use this to keep you informed as the project progresses. The web portal will be open until August 28, 2015.

MEMA says its vision for
the NSW marine estate and Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion is to have a healthy coast and sea managed for the
greatest well-being of the community, now and into the future.

The major web portal, framework and more information can be accessed at http://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/.

Also, check the website for updates:
www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/hawkesbury-shelf-marine-assessment

Or if you don’t have access to a computer, survey forms will be available at DPI Fisheries offices and you can post or fax your completed survey marked to: Hawkesbury Shelf Assessment, Locked Bag 1, Nelson Bay NSW 2315.

If you would like to receive updates on the Hawkesbury Shelf project or other marine estate projects email contact.us@marine.nsw.gov.au and provide your postcode and email address.