MARINE PARK AUTHORITY POWERS:

WHAT THE MPA DIDN'T TELL THE COMMUNITY: (Another one!)
These little gems surfaced in the Brunswick Estuary Management Plan. Byron Shire Council origionally voted TO OPPOSE the Cape Byron Marine Park! They backed their local community. And so too did Ballina Shire Council. They too voted "NO." Now, with a new Byron Shire Council, get a load of this.
" Byron Shire Council will now require developments in the locality of the Cape Byron Marine Park, that have the potential to impact on the park, to undertake appropriate environmental assessment!" We are all wondering what the real extent of "in the locality," means. ECOfishers is also advised the MPA is consulting with Local and State government authorities, to establish a referral procedure, with respect to assessing applications within or adjacent to, the park. Of course the NPWS doesn't even have to comply with any of that. They just do what they like because they are a government department and the government's rules and regulations don't apply to them. It is only Joe Citizen who is penalised in this way.
And then the MPA can change a Local Government Zoning through the LEP! Cop this. The MPA has required Byron Shire Council, to change the zoning, by REMOVING the 2(f) zoning in Brunswick Heads, at South Beach Rd, from the Byron Shire LEP! Council planners are now required to revise the LEP, such that the 2(f) Tourist Area, is now removed from South Beach Road. That folks, makes the land there valueless and no compensation for the property owners!
Did they tell the community that, when they were lying too about protecting turtles, dolphins and whales - and algae? Not bloody likely! Yet another MPA con!
They can't and won't keep plastic bags, from storm water intrusion, out of their marine parks, yet they change the zonings through the local LEP! And they needlessly ban family recreational fishers from sections of their parks. What hypocrites!