Waterway & Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 (closed 11 Aug 2026)
Norfolk Island Regional Council (Council) has placed the new Draft Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 on public exhibition for the period of 40 days seeking community and stakeholder feedback.
The draft strategy was presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 30 June 2026 and will now be placed on public exhibition for a period of 40 days. Read the report tabled at the meeting under section 13.5 of the 30 June 2026 Council Meeting business paper.
To read the draft strategy and make a public submission, follow the instructions below and provide feedback before the submission closing date of 4:00pm on 11 August 2026.
Background
The Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 (the Strategy) is an output of a $124,000 grant-funded project named ‘Managing cattle grazing on Norfolk Island to improve water quality on the Norfolk Marine Park’. Inclusive of both the Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 and the Norfolk Island Public Land Grazing Management Strategy, this project was:
- funded through the Australian Government’s Our Marine Parks Grants program; and
- is a deliverable under FY2027 Commonwealth funding of a 3-year project named Improving Water Quality on Norfolk Island commencing on 1 July 2026.
The Improving Water Quality on Norfolk Island project has received indicative funding support from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA) for $695,920 over three years subject to the final Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 and the Norfolk Island Public Land Grazing Management Strategy being endorsed by Council.
The intent of the Draft Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036 is to:
- Identify priority waterways on Norfolk Island based on their environmental, social, cultural and economic significance, and set objectives for their management.
- Develop a 10 year on-ground works and activity program (using voluntary financial incentives) across waterways, wetlands and erosion prone areas on public and private land to achieve the objectives and targets against which to measure progress in reaching these objectives.
- Provide a consistent, defensible process for identifying priority waterways and wetlands for government investment in waterway and wetland management on Norfolk Island.
- Engage key stakeholders and the community in the process of developing the Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy to ensure that the priority waterways and wetlands chosen for environmental protection also reflect areas of high community value.
Over the ten-year period, the Strategy aims to deliver measurable improvements in water quality, catchment resilience, vegetation condition and reef health. By establishing strong foundations in the early years, scaling up interventions as funding becomes available, and embedding long-term stewardship across the community, the Strategy provides a clear pathway to restoring and protecting Norfolk Island’s waterways and wetlands for future generations.
How to submit feedback:
Submissions should be written marked as shown below and can be made in the following ways:
- Written submissions handed in person: Customer Care, Bicentennial Centre, 39 Taylors Road, Burnt Pine.
- By Mail: Mark the envelope Draft Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy Feedback and mail to Norfolk Island Regional Council, PO Box 95, Norfolk Island.
- By Email: Subject line: Draft Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy Feedback to customercare@nirc.gov.nf.
Submissions close:
4:00pm, 11 August 2026.
Document for public exhibition:
Draft Norfolk Island Waterway and Wetland Management Strategy 2026-2036(PDF, 12MB)