176Bioregional plans

176  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.