Working Together with State Government agencies

The Wet Tropics Management Authority has the principal role in setting policy and coordinating management throughout the World Heritage Area. However, on the ground, the vast majority of the World Heritage Area is managed by Queensland Government agencies. The main Government agencies which work together with the Authority are listed below.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS)

QPWS is part of the Environmental Protection Agency, the leading agency for nature conservation in Queensland. QPWS manages about 80 per cent of the World Heritage Area which is either National Park, Forest Reserve, Timber Reserve or State Forest.

QPWS manages over 20 National Parks which make up 32% of the World Heritage Area (286,214ha). It also manages over 30 Forest Reserves which make up 38.9% of the Area (359,458ha), a Timber Reserve which makes up 7% of the Area (60,515ha) and over 1000ha of State Forest.

Since World Heritage listing of the Wet Tropics, State Forests and Timber Reserves are no longer logged. Many of the old State Forests have now become Forest Reserves and it is planned for most of them to become National Parks. The focus is now to conserve the ecological values of the forests and to manage public access through the provision of visitor facilities and access roads. For information about QPWS lands and their management, visit the site of the Environmental Protection Agency.

QPWS and the Authority share the responsibility for sound management to ensure the ongoing survival of the World Heritage Area. In broad terms, the Authority provides the policy blueprint for managing the World Heritage Area, while the QPWS provides day to day management. Rangers undertake a multitude of tasks including feral animal and weed control, managing permits for commercial tour operators and maintaining roads, walking tracks and visitor facilities. Where possible, the Authority assists with funding and technical advice. In this way, the entire World Heritage Area has uniform management standards, and land managers retain control and management of their lands.

Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)

DNRM are the on ground managers for Unallocated State Land which makes up 7% of the World Heritage Area (60,515ha). DNRM is also responsible for legislation throughout Queensland which regulates vegetation clearing, land and water use, and pest management. For this reason it is important that the Authority works closely with DNRM to help mitigate threats from land clearing and weeds and feral animals to the integrity of the Area. You can visit the DNRM website and learn about its role in managing land, water, vegetation and pests in the Wet Tropics and the rest of Queensland.

Department of Main Roads (Main Roads)

The Department of Main Roads is responsible for constructing and maintaining all major roads in the World Heritage Area. These inlcude the Bruce Highway, the Captain Cook Highway, the Kuranda Range Road, the Palmerston Highway and the Gillies Highway. Main Roads is also responsible for the road reserves and controlling threats such as weeds and erosion in the road reserve areas. Main Roads has developed a Road Maintenance Code of Practice for the World Heritage Area (available at the Authority) which is used as part of the permit conditions for maintaining roads.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF)

DPIF is responsible for managing fisheries in the World Heritage Area. This includes management of mangrove and estuary systems in the Area. The Authority is also working with DPIF to manage stocking of fish in freshwater and estuarine systems in and around the World Heritage Area. DPIF also regulates the introduction of pasture crops which have the potential to become environmental weeds such as hymenachne and guinea grass. You can read about the responsibilites of DPIF on its website.

Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP)

DIP is responsible for administering the Inegrated Planning Act 1997 and coordinating local government planning in and around the WHA. DIP is playing the lead role in developing the FNQ 2025 Statutory Regional Plan which guides the development and management of the region over the next two decades. The Authority works cooperatively with DIP to try and ensure that development in the region does not adversely affect the integrity of the World Heritage Area.

Daintree Planning Group

The Daintree Planning Group has been set up to bring about a sustainable future for the Daintree Coastal Community. The Austarlian Government, the Queensland Government and Douglas Shire Council will work together cooperatively to implement the recommendations of the Daintree Futures Study. To date, the Authority has provided secretarial and GIS support for the Daintree Planning Group, as well as participating in meetings.