Marine Farming Planning Act 1995

The Panel must recommend to the Minister that the draft plan be approved if satisfied that – the draft plan including any modification to the plan is acceptable; and the draft plan contains any matter relating to environmental management of finfish farming that the Director, EPA, in a notice under section 17A(1), requires the Panel to include in the draft plan or any draft plan.

The Panel must make its recommendation not later than – 3 months after – receipt of the report under section 28; or if any part of the draft plan is required to be modified, the day on which the report in relation to the modified part was submitted, or if more than one report was submitted, the day on which the last report was submitted; or any later day the Minister approves.

The Minister, after considering any recommendation, may – give final approval to the draft plan by signing the draft plan; or refuse to give final approval to the draft plan.

If the Minister gives final approval to a draft plan – the Minister must advise the Panel and the planning authority of the approval; and the planning authority must advertise the approval by public notice.

If the Minister refuses to give final approval to a draft plan, the Minister is to refer the draft plan back to the Panel – indicating any concerns the Minister has with the draft plan; or seeking further information.