2021-11-15 GC Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 2 - Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan with tracked changes

COOROIBAH, COOTHARABA, COMO, AND BOREEN POINT
Setting
This locality (a grouping of multiple localities with similar hazard exposure levels) focuses on the
shores of the two lakes and their surrounds (including Boreen Point township). The surrounding
areas of Lake Cooroibah and Lake Cootharaba that are exposed to coastal hazards are restricted
to the low-lying areas adjacent to both lakes, and adjacent to the section of Noosa River
connecting the two lakes.

Boreen Point, located approximately 2.8 km upstream from Noosa River mouth, is the key activity
centre at Lake Cootharaba and remains a small, secluded, lakeside village with a casual and
leisurely atmosphere focused on water activities which attracts visitors and tourists to the area in
holiday periods. As well as being home to a community that appreciates the low -key lifestyle, it
serves as a popular visitor destination and a gateway to the scenic wilderness of the upper Noosa
River.

At an elevation of only a few metres, the two lakes provide environmental, economic, social and
cultural values. Both waterbodies are influenced by tides and experience minor inundation along
the lakeshore under ‘king tides’. This is likely to be moderately exacerbated under future conditions
with sea level rise elevating the lake water level.

Risks within these localities
The risks posed by inundation in these localities are considered low, relative to other areas of
Noosa’s coastal zone. Due to the narrow tidal range, and distance from the rivermouthriver mouth,
the area of land projected to be inundated is low. Some private lots along McKinnon Drive are
likely to be inundated periodically with very shallow waters, along with some intrusion of the
stormwater network in this area. A significant area of land designated as conversation conservation
is projected to be inundated on a frequent basis. These areas include parts of Great Sandy
National Park, Wooroi Creek Bush Reserve, Moorindil Reserve, Harry Spring Conservation Park,
Cooroibah Environmental Reserve, and Una Corbould Nature Reserve.

Appendix 3 shows the change in risk profile across various parts of these localities as the area
exposed to the effects of periodic tidal inundation increases over time. Table 2223 provides a
summary of the changing risk profile for six broad asset types across these localities that are
projected to be exposed to the effects of periodic tidal inundation between present day and 2100.


          Asset Type                             Inundation risks by year
                              Present Day              2040               2070                2100
          Tourism                                                Low
          Business                                               Low
          Residential                        Low                                  Medium
          Infrastructure            Low                                 Medium
          Recreational                                           Low
          Natural                            Low                                    High
 Table 2223 - Change in locality asset risk profiles across planning horizons (Cooroibah, Cootharaba, Como & Boreen
                                                          Point)


       At present, the only method for mitigating the risks from tidal inundation in this area is:

   -   Planning and land use regulations are in place including minimum floor heights for new
       buildings.

Noosa Council – Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan                                                            Page 80