WITH the Iemma Government in damage control mode it appears the controversial Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park will probably not be effective before the Christmas school holidays.
The original timeline for the implementation of the marine park had the final zoning plan released in late October or early November, after submissions on the draft zoning plan closed on September 23.
However, around two months after submissions closed, neither the Marine Parks Authority nor the Department of Primary Industries will be drawn on whether the final zoning plan will be ratified ahead of the start of the tourist season, which is now less than a month away.
"We are still going through the submissions and we want to make sure that they are all looked at and considered," Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald said.
But when pushed by the Opposition's Primary Industries spokesman, The National's Duncan Gay in the Legislative Council for an independent review and audit of all submissions, Mr Macdonald refused.
"The simple answer is no," was all Mr Macdonald had to say on the issue.
The stonewall response came after Mr Gay had said, "Many of the 4,200 submissions regarding the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Parks draft zoning plan were extensive, including the joint 292-page submission prepared by Ernst and Young, costing more than $100,000 and involving research and surveys over nearly 12 months."
A further question in the Legislative Council by the Liberal Party's Robyn Parker, the duty MLC for Port Stephens, whether the zoning plan had been finalised saw Mr Macdonald remain coy.
"Let us be very clear: The government has been considering the report for some time and I am going to give due consideration to this matter," he said before directing members of the house to the Marine Parks Authority website.
"...where they will find a very well researched paper on the benefits and role of marine parks, benefits that can be shared by every sector that has an interest in marine parks."
When pushed again on the issue by Mr Gay, Mr Macdonald hinted that the zoning plan has been finalised.
"We believe we have got the balance right, and that is what upsets The Nationals and some unthinking Liberals," Mr Macdonald said. "We have a park system that is balanced and meets scientific criteria."
The response from Mr Macdonald appears at odds to his answer to a previous question (on September 28) from Ms Parker, where the Minister denied he was delaying the process to avoid a voter backlash.
"No. I would never delay any matter for a political purpose," Mr Macdonald said.
"It is clear that the Government has made a commitment to the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park."
Should the Liberal-National Party Coalition win power at the State Election they have promised to review the boundaries and zones of all marine parks gazetted to date.
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