• Anyone applying for permission to conduct a commercial activity within the Marine Park will be charged a fee. There are two types of application assessment fees:
• Initial fees — for a new permission type or significantly changing an existing one
• Continuation fees — for permission holders who wish to continue the same permission beyond the expiry date, applying only if applications are lodged before the existing permission expires.

The Reef Authority considers the exchange of goods or services for monetary or non-monetary gain as commercial. 

The fee charged is based on the activities proposed and the potential risks to the values of the Marine Parks, where the greater the risks the more extensive the assessment approach.

If you are only operating vessels or aircraft — and have not applied to operate a structure or facility in the Marine Parks — the fee will be based on the maximum passenger capacity of all vessels or aircraft covered by the application.

Exactly which fee applies can only be determined when you submit a completed application.

A notice of the fee will be sent to you after we receive your completed application. You will then have 21 days from the date of the notice to pay the fee.

If the fee isn't paid within 21 days, your application will lapse. There is no ability to extend this timeframe.

If your continuation application lapses and your current permission expires, you will have to pay the higher assessment fee charged for obtaining a new permission when you re-apply. You must also cease operations until you receive the new permission.

No decision will be made on an application until the fee has been paid.

For those applications requiring a Public Information Package, Public Environment Report or Environmental Impact Statement assessment approach there is provision for payments to be made by instalments.

Each time you make an application you will be charged a fee even if the core matters (such as permission type) do not change when you apply for a continuation.

Assessment fees are not refundable if the application is refused. The fees are to cover costs of assessing your application whether or not a permission is granted.

If you are wishing to change a core matter on the permit document, you must apply for a new permission and thus initial application fees apply.

Changes to core matters are clearly indicated on the permit document and generally include permission holder details, permit term, permission type, zones and in some cases locations.

The application guidelines contains further information about core matters and which fee applies.

Modifications to permit conditions can only be undertaken by the Reef Authority. Modifications to conditions of permission can be done with consent of the permit holder or without the consent of the permit holder according to the provisions of Section 128 of the Regulations. The Reef Authority discourages permit holders from requesting changes to conditions and any change to permit conditions is likely to attract an administration fee. 

The Marine Parks cultural referral process provides Traditional Owners with a greater say on activities permitted in the Marine Parks. This provides benefits including enhanced protection of cultural and/or ecological values of the Reef, support Traditional Owners to have meaningful input into the management of their Sea Country and provide an avenue to identify opportunities for collaboration or information sharing between Traditional Owners and Permit Holders.

After an application is received, the managing agencies will formally refer the application to relevant Traditional Owner groups participating in this program. Traditional Owners can then provide advice back on what impacts the activity might have on their Sea Country values. This advice will be considered in making a decision on the permit application.

• The following Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) groups are currently part of the cultural referral process.
• Woppaburra Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement
• Manduburra Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement
• Girringun Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement
• Wuthathi Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement

Spatial information on Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement groups is accessible on the Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements webpage.

We strongly encourage all applicants to contact the Traditional Owners of the area they wish to primarily or regularly operate in, but especially in cultural referral areas as these groups will be included in the assessment process. Prior contact with the Traditional Owners is likely to benefit the cultural referral process as the applicant and Traditional Owners are able to consult directly and earlier than the referral process.

Referrals will not replace or affect the Future Act Notifications process under the Native Title Act 1993.