THEMATIC ISSUES RAISED BY SUBMISSIONS ON THE REEF TRUST DISCUSSION PAPER
There was significant broad support for the Reef Trust design, principles and implementation approach. The table below summarises issues raised in
submissions. The submissions and suggestions are being considered in the design and establishment of the Reef Trust.
Thematic Issue
Design
The Reef Trust scope should be broad enough to:
 cover the entire geographic area of the Great Barrier Reef, and not to be limited to the Marine Park;
 recognise the existing management contributions made by community groups, industry bodies and regional organisations, including Traditional Owners and
Indigenous communities; and
 explicitly recognise the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Governance
Reef Trust governance arrangements should:
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demonstrate independence from government, and between expert scientific advice and investment decision making. This is considered fundamental to
securing a range of income streams for investment, to attract external funds and, to revolve and build funds.
ensure decision making is transparent and accountability mechanisms exist to hold decision makers to the highest standards.
include representation from a broad range of key interest groups, including indigenous representation and participation.
Reef Trust priority areas
Additional priorities suggested include minimising impacts to the reef associated with dredging, port developments, increased shipping and run-off from
development. This would give greater focus to the broader recommendations from the World Heritage Committee report concerning protection of the reef from
industrialisation.
Thematic Issue
Investment principles
Rigidity in the application of principles may stifle innovation and situational adaptations. Additional principles suggested for inclusion are:
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acknowledgement of the regional diversity along the length of the Great Barrier Reef;
the role of Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities;
leveraging of private investment; and
the ‘polluter pays’ concept.
Funding and investment
Investment in pilot projects is encouraged to assess options for the most effective use of funds. Such pilots should be small scale to assess the feasibility of the
delivery approach.
Investment requires a catchment management approach to achieve the overall objective/commitment and integrated outcomes.
Reef Trust’s investment approach should take into account the scientific and financial leverage that can be achieved through the deployment of
transformational technology.
Prioritisation
Prioritisation should commence sooner rather than later. Ecosystem health, ecological function and social benefits need to be factored into cost benefit
calculations. Prioritisation should include investment in decision support systems which underpin an understanding of the current state, enable forecasting of
future states and the evaluation of possible scenarios for action.
A broad range of community groups, experts, current managers and Traditional Owners must be provided the opportunity to participate directly in the process
of prioritisation.
Water Quality Improvement Plans have been noted as a mechanism to ensure investment is strategic, transparent and effective.
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Thematic Issue
Offsets
The Reef Trust should ensure environmental offsets achieve a net benefit to compensate for the environmental harm created by the activity being offset.
Further clarification is sought on how offsets will be calculated in the marine environment and how state-based marine offsets can be incorporated into the Reef
Trust framework. Transitional arrangements are also important that can provide flexibility for the provision of offsets in the interim development stage of the
Reef Trust to avoid unreasonable delay to the commencement of approved activities.
Environmental offsets present a significant driver for future investment in Indigenous Sea Country management.
Delivery mechanisms
Guiding principles will be important to establish the basis on which delivery mechanism will be used for particular desired outcomes. Delivery mechanisms
should acknowledge the regional variations of impacts and threats to the reef, management priorities, key stakeholders and service providers. Suggested that
the Reef Trust could allow for regional funding allocations for targeted investments to address regional issues.
Identification of and engagement with appropriate delivery partners will assist to achieve effective Reef Trust delivery in urban and peri-urban centres for
multiple outcomes.
Investment suggestions
Numerous suggestions were made for future Reef Trust investment. Examples include (but are not limited to):
 a water quality trading scheme;
 incentive payments for improved grower practice;
 understanding the nature of pharmaceuticals discharged principally from waste water treatment plants;
 implementation of Water Quality Improvement Plans;
 establishment of baseline conditions and definitions of outstanding universal value;
 wastewater treatment plant upgrades;
 advanced marine environmental monitoring technologies; and
 behaviour change programs in reef coastal catchments.
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Thematic Issue
Adaptive management
Monitoring and reporting of outcomes should be linked to a framework that defines how successful outcomes will be measured. A financial and ecological
measurement framework which encompasses baseline information, targeted outcomes, interacting issues and activities should be a core component of Reef
Trust design.
Greater linkages between the organisations responsible for (i) measurement, (ii) modelling, (iii) research and (iv) on-ground management could potentially
enhance linkages between those activities and thereby help facilitate integrated approaches to management.
Community and industry engagement
Broad community, industry and expert engagement should be involved in the design phase of Reef Trust investments. As examples, this should include local
government, Traditional Owners and regional managers.
Indigenous communities should be regarded as key to the success of a large number of Reef Trust strategies. Traditional Ecological Knowledge must be
considered as of equal and vital importance to a complete understanding of sea country and the ability to manage it effectively.
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