Energy storage upgrade Heard and McDonald Islands

Will Australia expand the Heard & McDonald Island Marine Reserve?

The Australian Government is proposing to expand the Heard and McDonald Island (HIMI) Marine Reserve by over 300,000 km 2 to around 379,000 km 2. The expanded reserve would cover nearly 90 per cent of the Exclusive Economic Zone around the islands and bring the proportion of Australian waters protected through marine reserves to 51 per cent.

What is the Heard Island & McDonald Islands Marine Reserve management plan?

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014-2024 is due for its 10-year statutory review. This review is being undertaken by the Australian Antarctic Division, a Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. We are inviting members of the public to provide comments on a:

When is public consultation on the Heard Island & McDonald Islands Marine Reserve open?

Public consultation on the proposal to expand the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and proposal to prepare a draft management plan for the reserve was open from 5 July 2024 to 5 September 2024. The public comment period has now closed.

Will the government quadruple Heard Island & McDonald Islands Marine Reserve?

The Pew Charitable Trusts’ national oceans manager, Fiona Maxwell, said: “We welcome the government’s decision to quadruple the size of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve and to expand fully protected sanctuary zones within the park.