EASTERN BEACHES FORESHORE RESERVES MANAGEMENT PLAN - COMMUNITY CONSULTATION OVERVIEW AND PROPOSED CHANGES · Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                            8 AUGUST 2023




Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 17 November 2022, Item 3, page 20

That Council note the report by the Environment Officer Coastal Management to the General
Committee Meeting dated 14 November 2022 and
A.    Approve the release of the Draft Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan (provided at
Attachment 1) for public consultation in February 2023 with the following amendments:
1.     Modify Action 11.1 to read “Develop and resource a Council-managed land encroachment
policy for Council managed natural areas that includes:
   •   educative compliance as a first measure to address and remove historic encroachments; and
   •   a zero tolerance and timely enforcement approach to any new encroachments.”
2.     Add an action 11.2 to read “Commence a Natural Area, Foreshore and Waterway Ranger
Program with staff that have roles as natural resource managers, education and compliance
officers.”
3.     Add an action 11.3 to read: “Institute a broader awareness campaign to encourage good
custodianship of the bushland reserves and beaches including information and signage.”
B.      That the resourcing of the Ranger Program be referred to Budget Review 2 for the
commencement of an additional officer at the earliest possible opportunity; and
C.     Note the Community Consultation and Engagement Plan (provided at Attachment 2) for the
consultation process.
D.     That the CEO be requested to bring forward the Encroachment Policy for all areas of the shire
to the January round of meetings.

Finance
Transitioning from community-managed Coastal Connect to Council-managed reserves
In previous years, Council bush rehabilitation contractor funds were restricted to 3 labour days per
Eastern Beaches foreshore reserve to support bushcare activities. The majority of contractor
ecological restoration in the Eastern Beaches foreshore reserves were delivered by an annual
$75,000 multi-year grant from Council’s Environment Levy to the Coastal Connect project (led by
Bushcare volunteers). This imposed a significant workload on the volunteers. Under the 2023/24
budget, Council has supported the transiting of this restoration work back to Council as core business
rather than it being delivered through the Coastal Connect project.
The 2023/24 budget provides for:
   •   Ongoing resources for ecological restoration of Eastern Beaches bushland reserves,
       including dedicated staff resources to manage increased restoration.
   •   Transfer of ecological restoration planning, contract management and administration from
       volunteers to Council staff.


Risk & Opportunities
Community input during the development of the Environment Strategy 2019 and Noosa CHAP 2021,
and results from the Noosa Liveability Study 2022 strongly support maintaining natural processes
and using nature-based solutions to address climate change risks and conserve and manage natural
areas and natural values. Improving the ecosystem health and resilience of Noosa’s coastal
environments is identified as a management priority in the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 and
Noosa Bushland Reserves Strategic Management Plan 2021 – 2026.