PERSONAL PRIORITIES PREFERRED IN POLICIES: SURVEY
In a public opinion survey of GBRMPA's decision making process, CRC
research fellow Dr Leanne Fernandes is finding that people have vastly
different expectations about the relative importance of cultural, ecological,
economic, legal, institutional, political and social issues when making
decisions.
"Survey respondents tell me that they think resource managers at
GBRMPA need to take account of socio-economic and bio-physical dimensions
when making decisions," Leanne says. "That's a big job, as each
of these dimensions is made up of many specific management objectives.
For example, 'maintaining natural values' is made up of maintaining ecosystems,
minimising negative human impacts, restoring degraded natural features,
and so on.
"Not everyone thinks that all these management issues are equally
important. GBRMPA planners and managers must address the fact that not
everyone has the same opinion on the relative importance of different
Marine Park management objectives. While public consultation helps GBRMPA
staff identify what different interest groups think about certain issues
they don't always have a complete picture".
A questionnaire asking people about their preferences for GBRMPA's management
objectives has been disseminated throughout Queensland. Individuals and
peak body representatives are being asked to rank the importance they
place on various objectives. So far, more than 120 questionnaires have
been returned including representations from several key groups.
There is input from Aboriginal people, agriculturalists, commercial
fishers, catchment managers, conservationists, the defence forces, local
community members, government agencies (e.g. GBRMPA, Local Councils, QFMA
and DEH staff), marine educators, recreational fishers, school students,
tourist operators and the wider Australian community. The survey is continuing
and data collation is occurring right now.
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