Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan
(Review and update)

A new draft Maria Island National Park and Ile Des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan (the management plan) is being developed.

More than 400 submissions were received during the pre-draft consultation period (Stage 2). These submissions, together with targeted consultation, have informed the development of the draft management plan.

The draft management plan is now undergoing final internal reviews and approvals. This includes statutory consultations.​ We are consulting with the Australian Government to ensure the management plan satisfies the legislative requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and Regulations 2000 for management plans for National Heritage Places and World Heritage Areas (Maria Island is recognised as both). ​

The draft will be released for public comment around mid-2025. 

Project sta​ges

​	​​​​​​​​	​​​ Sta​ge 1 - Back​ground research and preparation of discussion papers​
​	​​​​	​ ​Stage 2​ ​​​- Consultation to inform the draft plan    - Release of discussion papers    - Call for input into the development of the draft plan    - Three public meetings - Triabunna, Launceston and Hobart    ​​- Online feedback form    - Consultation with key stakeholders    ​​​- Analysis of feedback
		Stage 3 - Preparation of the pre-draft consultation summary report
​		Stage 4 - Preparation work on the Draft Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan
		Stage 5 - Release of the Draft Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan. The pre-draft consultation summary report will also be released at this time.
		Stage 6 - Consultation on the draft management plan    - Call for representations on the draft plan    - Comment via written submission and online feedback     - Analysis of feedback​​
		Stage 7 - Preparation of the Director's Report for the Draft Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan ​(the Director's Report)    - Analysis of submissions    - Preparation of proposed amendments to the draft management plan​
		Stage 8 - Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) review the Director's Report
		Stage 9 - Preparation of the final Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan ​
​	​	Stage 10 - Approval of the final Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan     - Minister's approval    - Governor of Tasmania approval​    - Australian Government approval

Key dates

​​​Release of discussion papers - Friday 23 April ​2021

Call for input into the development of the draft plans - Friday 23 April 2021

• Public meetings 
• Online
  
• Key stakeholder consultation
  

Close of comment period - 9.00am, Monday 7 June 2021

​Call for representations - Release of draft management plan for public comment - Early 2025 - date to be confirmed ​​

• ​The pre-draft consultation summary report will be released at this time
  
• Invitation for submissions on the draft plan to be made to the Director National Parks and Wildlife

Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) review - To be confirmed

• TPC review of the Director's Report on the Draft Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan
  

​​Release of the approved management plan - To​ be confirmed​

• ​Release of the approved Maria Island National Park and Ile des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan​​​​
  

​​​​Have your say​

The pre-draft comment period has now closed. The submissions received have informed the development of the draft management plan. 

There will be a further call for public comment on the draft management plan at the time of its release​.

A​ny questions about the project can be directed to the Project Manager at mariaislandplan@parks.tas.gov.au 

Reference documents​​​

​   Background Information about the revision of the Maria Island plans   (5Mb)

  Discussion Paper - Aboriginal Cultural Heritage   (1Mb)

  Discussion paper - Historic Heritage   (4Mb)

  Discussion Paper - Natural Values   (5Mb)

  Discussion Paper - Natural Marine Values   (3Mb)

  Discussion Paper - Visitor Experience and Impacts   (4Mb)

  Maria Island National Park and Ile Des Phoques Nature Reserve Management Plan 1998   (5Mb)

 Maria Island National Park Darlington Site Plan 1998 (PDF 5Mb)​

  Maria Island Marine Reserve Brochure   (1Mb)​