Approvals Application Supporting Material · MCU26/0084

                                               Noosa Harbour & Las Rias Foreshore Management Works
                                                 OFFICIAL



The scale, orientation and location of the groynes ensure their influence is confined to the immediate
foreshore zone, as shown in 1 above. The works will not obstruct the main navigation channel, alter
tidal flows, and will have negligible impacts on tidal flows and estuarine circulation patterns within the
broader Noosa River system. No redirection of the river channel or modification of regional sediment
pathways is proposed; rather, the works are intended to stabilise locally at the site location.

Sediment used for filling geotextile containers will be sourced from shoal areas within the Noosa River
that have been identified as actively accreting. The volume of material to be dredged is minor when
considered relative to the size of the shoals and the magnitude of natural sediment redistribution that
occurs during flood events. The indicative dredging footprint and accreting shoal locations are shown in
1.1 above.

The redistribution of sand from accreting shoals to an erosion‑prone shoreline represents a net benefit
to coastal resilience at the site and will not result in measurable adverse impacts on sediment
availability or channel stability.

The proposed design allows for adaptive management of the shoreline, including adjustment of
nourishment volumes and the potential staging of groyne construction based on observed shoreline
response. This approach recognises the dynamic nature of the Noosa River system and provides
flexibility to respond to future changes in channel alignment or flow conditions without the need for
large‑scale structural intervention.

The proposed works are consistent with Performance Outcome PO12 of State Code 8 for tidal works,
as they:

•   Maintain the operation of natural estuarine processes and avoid significant interference with tidal
    flows, channel hydraulics, and sediment transport pathways;
•   Limit impacts to the immediate foreshore and previously disturbed areas and are appropriately
    scaled to the site‑specific coastal process drivers; and
•   Improve shoreline stability without increasing erosion risk elsewhere within the Noosa River system.
Overall, the proposed works will result in a localised improvement in shoreline stability and will have a
negligible impact on the coastal processes within the Noosa River estuary.

3.3 Ecological Values
The lower Noosa River is highly dynamic, as evidenced in localised changes in the channel morphology
and location of sand shoals. As a result, at present, no seagrass is known to occur within the dredging
footprint. Similarly, the foreshore is in a heavily eroded state such that no marine plants have
established in the intertidal area. There is also no known macroalgae on the revetment wall, as
indicated in Figure 3.2.

Despite this, the lower Noosa River is known to support a series of marine ecological values, including
habitat for fish and shorebird species. Migratory shorebirds are known to utilise the sand shoals across
the lower Noosa River as intertidal habitat for feeding, with roosting occurring in supratidal habitat
around Noosa Spit and the northern banks of the river. Migratory shorebirds are present from October
to April and include a range of nationally and internationally important species. Some occasional
foraging may occur within the proposed dredge footprint, although this would be offset by the
abundance of similar shoal habitat throughout the lower river. In particular, based on historical
assessments by Noosa Shire Council, the dominant areas utilised by shorebirds are near the mouth of
the river, where coastal processes have generated extensive, interconnected sand shoals and intertidal
habitat (Figure 3.3). Thus, while dredging during migratory shorebird season could cause localised
disturbance, this is unlikely to have any material impact on shorebirds more generally.
© BMT 2026
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