The Australian Government's Innovation Report
The Australian Government's Innovation Report
The Australian Government's Innovation Report
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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority<br />
<strong>The</strong> Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is the <strong>Australian</strong> Government’s principal adviser on the care and<br />
development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. <strong>The</strong> authority undertakes a variety of activities including:<br />
• developing and implementing zoning and management plans;<br />
• environmental impact assessment and permitting of use;<br />
• research, monitoring and interpreting data; and<br />
• providing information, educational services and marine environmental management advice.<br />
In 2005-06, the authority funded science to support the management of the marine park through two major<br />
programmes. It contributed $1.905 million in cash and about $420 000 in-kind to the Cooperative Research<br />
Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (CRC Reef). It undertook a $2 million marine<br />
monitoring programme as part of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan including monitoring the reef ’s<br />
biophysical environment and social and economic attributes of adjacent coastal communities. <strong>The</strong> authority<br />
also provided $80 000 to support four different <strong>Australian</strong> Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants.<br />
Monitoring reef quality<br />
One of the greatest threats to the iconic Great Barrier Reef is degraded water quality, but a Marine Monitoring<br />
Programme is helping to ensure the reef is around for generations to come.<br />
<strong>The</strong> near shore area of the World Heritage Area is under stress from human activity associated with coastal<br />
developments and agricultural practices.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Marine Monitoring Programme is led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as part of the<br />
Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, a joint initiative of the <strong>Australian</strong> and Queensland Governments. It<br />
is funded by the National Heritage Trust and delivered by a consortium of monitoring agencies including<br />
the <strong>Australian</strong> Institute of Marine Science, the University of Queensland and the Queensland Department<br />
of Primary Industries and Fisheries.<br />
<strong>The</strong> programme uses world-class research to track the effectiveness of the Reef Water Quality Protection<br />
Plan. Community involvement in water quality and seagrass monitoring is an extremely important part of<br />
the programme. <strong>The</strong> partnership between environmental managers, scientists and the community, funded<br />
and supported by the <strong>Australian</strong> Government, is essential to successfully dealing with degraded water quality.<br />
Photo credits: GBRMPA<br />
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 37