Notice of Proposed Proclamations of Commonwealth Reserves—Christmas Island Marine Park and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park (Cth)

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Subsection 351(2)

Director of National Parks

NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROCLAMATIONS OF COMMONWEALTH RESERVES—CHRISTMAS ISLAND MARINE PARK AND COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS MARINE PARK

Members of the public are invited to provide comments on a proposal to declare two new Commonwealth reserves under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

Comments will be included and considered in a report to be prepared by the Director of National Parks (the Director) for the Minister for the Environment under subsection 351(1) of the EPBC Act dealing with the two proclamations proposed to be made by the Governor-General under subsection 344(1) of the EPBC Act. The proposed Proclamations will declare two new Commonwealth reserves, as described in this notice.

The proposed Commonwealth reserves are located around Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in Australia's Indian Ocean Territories and have been co‑designed with the communities of these islands.

A statement providing particulars of each of the two proposed Commonwealth reserves to be dealt with by the Proclamations is below, in accordance with subsection 351(3) of the EPBC Act. Further details are in Schedule 1.

The proposed Proclamations will not affect the exercise of any native title rights that may exist within the areas of the proposed reserves, in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993.

Further information about the proposed reserves is available at: www.parksaustralia.gov.au/marine/iot/process/, including detailed maps.

All members of the public are invited to comment on the matters to be dealt with by the proposed Proclamations. Comments may be sent to either:

1) Email address: iotmarineparksproclamation@environment.gov.au

2) Postal address: