Between 5 July to 5 September 2024, the public were invited to comment on a proposal to expand the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and a proposal to prepare a draft management plan for the Reserve.
July 2024 proposal to expand the reserve
- Proposal to expand Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve PDF
- Commonwealth Gazette notice PDF
July to September 2024 Public Consultation Submissions and Report
The Head of Division of the Australian Antarctic Division, as delegated by the Director of National Parks, considered comments and provided a report to the Minister for the Environment and Water in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Endorsement of the new boundaries and zoning
Following consideration of this report, the Minister for the Environment and Water endorsed the final marine reserve design recommended by the Head of the Australian Antarctic Division. The Governor-General signed the Amendment Proclamation giving effect to the design on 5 December 2024. This Amendment Proclamation came into effect on 24 January 2025.
- Map of the proclaimed boundaries and zoning PDF
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve) Amendment Proclamation 2024
History of establishment
The Reserve was first declared in October 2002 by Proclamation for the purpose of ‘protecting the conservation values of Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the adjacent unique and vulnerable marine ecosystems’. It is a Commonwealth Reserve, declared under section 344 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).
The original Reserve was expanded on 28 March 2014 following a scientific assessment of the region’s conservation values and extensive consultation with key stakeholders.