This discussion paper describes how we propose to manage the priority threats that impact the Hawkesbury Shelf marine bioregion. The proposal includes establishing a marine park which will aim to enhance the conservation of marine biodiversity and maximise environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits to the NSW community. The proposed marine park will consist of a suite of management changes at 25 discrete or non-contiguous sites to provide localised reductions in risk from some threats to enhance community benefits.

The marine park proposal is in addition to and will complement the initiatives under the Marine Estate Management Strategy 2018–2028 (the Strategy). The Strategy addresses priority threats to the NSW marine estate identified in the statewide Threat and Risk Assessment (TARA).

The discussion paper is presented into two parts:

Part 1 outlines the context and approach for enhancing marine biodiversity in the bioregion

Part 2 is the site proposal which describes the proposed management at 25 discrete sites within a marine park in the bioregion.The proposal meets the requirements of the Marine Estate Management Act 2014 which guides how the marine estate is to be managed in NSW. The draft site objectives, described in this paper align with the objects of the Act.

Zones will be used to manage the network of 25 sites within the proposed marine park. The zones proposed to be used for management are listed below. The zones may change depending on community feedback and the outcome of the final marine park, to ensure the appropriate zone type is used to attain the site objectives.