I once viewed a catalyst show – showing pollution in Sydney Harbour – it where 2 feet deep of black toxic waste – lead – zinc – mercury – off the tyres off cars and trucks – washed down the storm water – filthy!

It would be such an achievement to establish the Sydney Marine Park and therefore protect the Harbour ecology that is just so important to Sydney

I support the proposal to extend marine parks on the Central Coast/Sydney coast line to enable the sea life to be conserved.

A Sydney Marine Park will enhance habitat and ecosystem protection resulting in enhanced recreational and commercial fisheries, protection of endangered and threatened marine species, and increase economic, social and ecological sustainability and will enhance coastal lifestyle for a huge section of coast from Newcastle to Sydney and Wollongong .

The Sydney and Hawkesbury Bioregion’s incredible coasts and ocean are at the heart of our enviable lifestyle. Our beaches, bays and waterways are truly iconic, and are renowned for their beauty both above and below the water.

A science based multi-use Marine Park for the whole Sydney region will secure a healthy, productive, and sustainable marine systems for our marine based lifestyle including boating, swimming, surfing, fishing and just enjoying our beaches, bays and waters lifestyle.

However, under the mechanism for achieving such protection, the NSW Marine Parks Act there is one huge impediment to achieving worlds best practice science based marine conservation and protection, the lack of legislated two phase consultation programs & specified appropriate periods for consultation.

The Act was originally proposed to mirror to a large degree the Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Act which had two formal consultation periods or phases which have lead the best Marine Park planning and management system on the world.

The first phase was before the development of the draft plan to clearly identify the ecosystems, habitats and biodiversity and their scientific value, and clearly identify all usage inc. commercial, recreational, and scientific plus give the public the opportunity to have initial input & get a clear understanding of what is being proposed.

The second formal consultation phase followed the development of a draft plan using all the information gathered in addition to additional consultation with key stakeholders to clarify and fine tune the draft plan for release. The draft plan also included clear justifications for decisions and the process that had been used to develop the draft plan. The Marine Park Act must be undated.

The proposed consultation period for this current process is woefully inadequate and far too short to cover the state’s largest population centres and facilitate sufficient high level and comprehensive public input. To adequately cover the entire coastline of the proposed marine park areas the current number of available and sufficiently trained staff will result in a poor consultation outcome that will alienates many stakeholders

We deserve a Marine Park developed through appropriate, comprehensive, and relevant consultation process that allows everyone to have an input and demonstrates to the world that we use worlds best practice, base decisions on science and knowledge and how much we love and value our marine life, habitats and ecosystems and our coastal lifestyle and activities and that we are serious about ensuring the ongoing protection and sustainability of what we love.

This is fantastic progress. The harbour would naturally be chock full of schools of fish and numerous other sea life large and small, if properly managed in a way that smartly balances human and urban pressures. Doing this properly, including the establishment of protective marine parks, is in the interest of all users of the harbour, including residents, commuters, boaters, visitors, fishermen, kayakers and divers.

Something many fishermen are resistant to acknowledge is that the presence of sanctuaries provides a reservoir or nursery of fish habitat that can regenerate and refresh adjacent fishing zones. It’s time to put this science into place for the benefit of all marine users and enthusiasts.👍👍🐠🎣🏊🐳

Govt Depts this time of year (pre-EOFY) will urgently spend allocated funds in excess, as, it justifies ongoing funding, and, administratively, it is a big headache to return those funds. Get rid of the headache, and find an initiative like this……
Use these surplus funds to make our economic powerhouses (cities) more desirable to live in.
Those of us living on the edges of such a Marine Park (Wollongong in this case) will also benefit.

We need to leave a better place for the next generations

For the future

Also stop dumping raw sewage in Sydney Harbor and off ocean off cliff tops. Raw sewage is also dumped late at night to try to avoid detection in the harbor. Probably far less than half the water in is treated as sewage. Where is it going????

With only 1% of Sydney’s marine environment protected, I completely support a future with a Sydney Marine Park. Thanks for all your hard work team!