Extensions to EPBC Act listing assessment and decision timeframes
The Minister has granted extensions on the following items.
New assessment completion timeframes for two ecological communities
Within the Murray-Darling Basin there are two aquatic ecological communities currently being assessed for potential listing, as threatened, under the EPBC Act:
- The River Murray and associated wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems, from the junction with the Darling River to the sea (on 2008 FPAL); and
- The Macquarie Marshes (formerly Wetlands of the Darling Basin, on 2009 FPAL).
The statutory assessment completion deadlines have been extended for the second time to allow for the Basin Plan process. Both ecological community assessments are now due to be completed by 30 June 2013. A period of public consultation is planned for early 2013.
‘Long Lowland Rivers of South-east Queensland and Northern New South Wales’ ecological community
The assessment timeframe for this ecological community has been extended until 30 November 2013. Note, the ecological community has been renamed from that occurring on the 2009 FPAL as 'Riffle/Pool/Bar River Community of the South Eastern Queensland Bioregion' and it was originally nominated as 'Riffle/Pool/Sandbank Community of the Mary River (Queensland) floodplain'.
‘Damage to marine ecosystems by trawling in the area of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery’
The Minister has extended his decision timeframe for this key threatening process to 31 May 2013, being closely linked with the assessment of dogfish species for which a listing decision is due on 31 May 2013.
Dogfish – Centrophorus harrissoni and C. zeehaani
The Minister has extended his decision timeframe for two species of dogfish (gulper sharks) – Centrophorus harrissoni and C. zeehaani to 31 May 2013.
‘Fire regimes that cause biodiversity decline’ (formerly ‘contemporary fire regimes resulting in the loss of vegetation heterogeneity and biodiversity throughout Australia)’
The assessment timeframe for this key threatening process was extended from 30 September 2010 until 31 March 2011 due to a delay in the public consultation period which occurred as a result of the tragic Victorian bushfires. The extension allowed the TSSC to consider the information learned in enquiries following these tragic fires.
The Minister received the Threatened Species Scientific Committee's advice in March 2010.
The Minister extended his timeframe to make a decision on whether to list this key threatening process to 31 August 2013 to allow for further consultation with state and territory governments and to allow the Minister to consider the department's review of key threatening processes.
‘Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) Eastern Plains Complex’
The assessment timeframe for this ecological community has been extended until 30 November 2013.