Section 176 — Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Bioregional plans

(1) The Minister may prepare a bioregional plan for a bioregion that is within a Commonwealth area. In preparing the plan, the Minister must carry out public consultation on a draft of the plan in accordance with the regulations. (2) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, co-operate with a State or a self-governing Territory, an agency of a State or of a self-governing Territory, or any other person in the preparation of a bioregional plan for a bioregion that is not wholly within a Commonwealth area. (3) The co-operation may include giving financial or other assistance. (4) A bioregional plan may include provisions about all or any of the following: (a) the components of biodiversity, their distribution and conservation status; (b) important economic and social values; (ba) heritage values of places; (c) objectives relating to biodiversity and other values; (d) priorities, strategies and actions to achieve the objectives; (e) mechanisms for community involvement in implementing the plan; (f) measures for monitoring and reviewing the plan. (4A) A bioregional plan prepared under subsection (1) or (2) is not a legislative instrument. (5) Subject to this Act, the Minister must have regard to a bioregional plan in making any decision under this Act to which the plan is relevant.