Territory Stories

Ecologically sustainable development in the Darwin Harbour Region : review of governance frameworks

Details:

Title

Ecologically sustainable development in the Darwin Harbour Region : review of governance frameworks

Other title

Environment Protection Agency.

Creator

Environment Protection Agency (Northern Territory); Northern Territory. Department Of Lands, Planning And Environment

Collection

E-Publications; E-Books; PublicationNT

Date

2010-09

Notes

Date:2010-09

Table of contents

Executive summary -- Introduction -- 1. Background -- 1.1 Terms of reference -- 1.2 Scope and structure of the review -- 1.3 Ecologically sustainable development and governance -- 1.4 Ecologically sustainable development, principles and criteria -- 1.5 The Darwin Harbour Region -- 2. Ecologically sustainable development in legislation, policies and plans -- 2.1 Strategic development and management -- 2.2 Land use -- 2.3 Minerals, extractive materials and petroleum -- 2.4 Ports -- 2.5 Pollution, waste and public health -- 2.6 Water -- 2.7 Fisheries and marine areas -- 2.8 Biodiversity, heritage and natural resource management -- 2.9 Environmental assessment -- 3. Discussion and findings -- 4. Advice.

Language

English

Subject

Darwin Harbour -- Environmental aspects; Environmental management -- Northern Territory -- Darwin Harbour

Publisher name

Environment Protection Agency

Place of publication

Palmerston

Format

vii, 59 p. : col. ills. ; 30 cm.

File type

application/pdf

Use

Copyright

Copyright owner

Environment Protection Agency

License

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042

Parent handle

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/243122

Citation address

https://hdl.handle.net/10070/603823

Page content

45 and Wildlife must consult the public and include any representations made (together with its comments on those representations) in its report to the Administrator. The TPWC Act also provides for members of the public to make submissions on a draft plan of management after it has been prepared and before it is provided to the Legislative Assembly for final approval. There is no requirement for public participation when an approved plan of management is amended, but the amended plan must go before the Legislative Assembly for final approval. Natural Resource Management Legislation Legislation relating to natural resource management (NRM) in the Northern Territory includes the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act, Weeds Management Control Act, and the Bushfires Act. The Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act can be used to declare: areas of erosion hazard; soil conservation orders; and restricted use areas. A restricted use area is in place on the coastal strip adjacent to Imaluk and Wagait Beaches on the Cox Peninsula. Private land managers are encouraged to develop control plans to minimise the risks of erosion and sedimentation, while developers are required to submit plans for individual developments. Despite this, the Planning Act does not regulate the time between ground preparation works and subsequent development - a time lag which can potentially lead to significant erosion. Just over 160 species of weed are found in the Darwin Harbour region. Those that pose a more serious threat are Mimosa (Mimosa pigra), cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana), gamba grass (Andropogan gayanus) and mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion). Plans of management are the primary tool for managing weeds under the Weeds Management Control Act 2001. The Darwin Harbour region has been declared a management zone for gamba grass, which allows landholders to manage and control, rather than eradicate, existing infestations. Management of bushfires in non-urban areas of the Northern Territory is implemented through the Bushfires Act. The Bushfires Council of the NT is the statutory body established under the Act, while Bushfires NT is responsible for supporting the Bushfires Council and volunteer brigades across the Territory. Bushfires NT has a number of fire management objectives including: protection of life, property and the environment from the effects of wildfires maintenance of natural resources, including native ecosystems and productive lands, by the use of appropriate fire regimes22. These objectives are informing the development of a NT Bushfires Management Strategy but are not reflected in legislation. 22 http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/natres/bushfires/about.html (Accessed 26 August 2010) http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/natres/bushfires/about.html