2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 2 Proposal by Eco Camp

                                                      Officer Name:     Brett de Chastel
                                                      Officer Email:    [email protected]
                                                      Phone No:         07 5329 6500
                                                      ECM Ref:          Customer/ Discovery Group


3 February 2017


Eco Camp Pty Ltd
PO Box 1804
Noosaville DC Qld 4566
via email – [email protected]

Attention: Wade Batty, Managing Director


Dear Mr Batty,

I refer to the Discovery Group’s proposal to establish an Eco-Tourism facility at Elanda Point
by taking over the existing lease from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS). The
Discovery Group has requested a letter of support from Noosa Council to assist with their
negotiations with the State Government in relation to their proposal.

Noosa Council supports the ongoing development of the Noosa tourism sector with an
emphasis on a high quality tourism product that complements the Noosa brand focusing on
our outstanding natural environment. Our tourism market is important to our local economy.

Our region’s tourism focus is also on “quality over quantity” and a high quality eco-tourism
proposal certainly fits with our Noosa brand. As such, the concept of the Discovery Group to
re-invigorate the current Elanda Point camping ground into a world class eco-tourism facility
is supported subject to, of course, the Discovery Group receiving all necessary approvals to
enable that to occur. Such a facility will complement the Noosa tourism offering and be
particularly attractive to the overseas and interstate tourism target markets.

Noosa is also part of the “Australia’s Nature Coast” initiative facilitated by Visit Sunshine
Coast, Tourism Noosa, Destination Gympie and the Fraser Coast Regional Tourism
organisations. This initiative is focused on highlighting the natural experiences that can occur
in this region and the proposed eco-tourism facility at Elanda Point will certainly add
significantly to that initiative.

One of the benefits that we see from the Discovery Group’s proposal is the opportunity to
remove over 1,500 high speed vessel movements per year from the lower reaches of the
Noosa River. We are also supportive of the Discovery Group’s proposal to change their
operating fleet to low draw, low wash vessels designed to deliver minimal impact of the Noosa
River and lake foreshores. We believe that both of those initiatives will have a significant
positive effect on the Noosa River and its lake foreshores compared to current operating
practices and as such, those initiatives have our support.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully




Brett de Chastel
Chief Executive Officer




                              PO Box 141                P. (07) 5329 6500      [email protected]
                              TEWANTIN QLD 4565         F. (07) 5329 6501      www.noosa.qld.gov.au