2019-12-10 P&E Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 1 - NBRF Annual Report 2018-19

Fortunately, Professor Skilliter had undertaken a survey of this layer in the Noosa River some 20 years ago. Therefore, a
research program was set up to measure both the numbers and diversity of the macro-invertebrates now present and
compare to the previous history.

Initial findings suggest a worrying decline in both number and diversity of the food available to prawns.

Given that, Professor Skilliter and his team have been asked to complete the assessment and also, if possible, suggest
possible causes and solutions.

We await the final report with great interest. Anecdotally, the amount of sediment coming down the catchment may be a
cause plus any potential long half-life toxins present from a number of sources.

We can already see that a study of toxins in the river bed is going to be required and is included in the forward program.


                                      UQ PRAWN & RIVER BIODIVERSITY STUDY

      NBRF FUNDING                   CASH & IN-KIND                 PROJECT VALUE                     LEVERAGE

          $157,800                        $287,000                       $444,800                           2.8:1




BBTF : KEEPING IT IN KIN KIN

Sediment in the Noosa catchment has been identified as a major problem for the health of the river.

Furthermore, the extreme rain events and the associated weak structure of the Kin Kin catchment has been identified as
a major source of this sediment.

The “KEEP IT IN KIN KIN” project, led by Noosa Landcare, aims to find ways to hold this sediment back as both a
benefit to the Noosa River and to the agricultural land in the catchment.

A previous LIDAR study 10 years ago had produced detailed contour maps of the catchment and the aerial technique
enabled the contours of the soil to be seen through vegetation etcetera.

In this project, the LIDAR study was repeated on the current catchment and the two contour maps compared. From this
it was possible to see where land had eroded and been deposited.

The amount of soil lost from the catchment is a staggering amount in millions of tonnes over the period.

This study enabled priority erosion areas to be identified and priorities agreed.

Various workshops have been held with the help of Country Noosa to present erosion prevention techniques to the local
community.

The project has now finished and a range of “shovel ready” priority projects has been identified that are awaiting
significant funding from a range of possible grant sources.
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