(1)

This section applies only to a Commonwealth reserve, or a zone of a Commonwealth reserve, that is assigned by a Proclamation under Subdivision B or a management plan for the reserve to the IUCN category of wilderness area.

(2)

The Commonwealth reserve or zone must be maintained in its natural state.

(3)

A person may use the Commonwealth reserve or zone only for:

(a)

scientific research authorised by the Director; or

(b)

a purpose (except recovery of minerals) specified in the provisions of the management plan for the reserve that relate to the zone.

(4)

A person other than the Director must not do any of the following acts in the Commonwealth reserve or zone:

(a)

kill, injure, take, trade, keep or move a member of a native species;

(b)

damage heritage;

(c)

carry on an excavation;

(d)

erect a building or other structure;

(da)

carry out works;

(db)

take an action for commercial purposes;

(e)

establish a track;

(f)

use a vehicle, aircraft or vessel;

(g)

inundate land by means of a dam or other works for affecting the flow of water (whether they are inside or outside the reserve or zone);

(h)

extract water by canals or other works for affecting the flow of water (whether they are inside or outside the reserve or zone).

Civil penalty:

(a)

for an individual—500 penalty units;

(b)

for a body corporate—5,000 penalty units.

(5)

The Director must not do an act described in subsection (4) in the Commonwealth reserve or zone, except for purposes essential to the management of the reserve or zone and in accordance with:

(a)

the provisions of the management plan in operation for the reserve or zone; or

(b)

if there is not a management plan in operation for the reserve or zone and a Proclamation assigned the reserve or zone to the IUCN category of wilderness area—the provisions of the Proclamation.

(6)

This section has effect despite any other law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory, but is subject to section 359 (about usage rights existing before a Commonwealth reserve) and to the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 .

Subdivision D—Complying with management plans for Commonwealth reserves