2020-09-14 GC Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Noosa River Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project Annual Report No. 1

Conservation deliverables
The Project principally delivers the following:
    1. Restoration of Noosa’s oyster ecosystems at practical and agreed locations;
    2. Engagement of the Noosa community and local businesses in meaningful volunteering and marine education
         opportunities;
    3. Exploration of the potential to restore seagrass habitats in Lake Cooroibah (and potentially elsewhere) to
         reduce sediment resuspension and increase invertebrate and fish biomass in the estuary (to be delivered as
         part of Objective two and five); and,
    4. Provision of technical advice to Noosa Shire Council (NSC) in identifying opportunities for sustainable
         commercial and recreational fisheries in the Noosa River.


Work sequence
The Project comprises three work stages, to reduce ecological and financial risks through the application of an
adaptive management framework whereby learnings from previous phases are included in future stages to consider
prior learning and minimize risk:

1. Optimal design and siting (2020) which includes pre-planning to determine the optimal design, locations and most
cost effective method of reef restoration;

2. First site implementation (2020-2021) which seeks to restore oyster beds at two pilot sites; and,

3. Full restoration (2021-2022) where additional oyster beds are restored at additional sites.


Summary of Achievements to Date
Considerable progress has been made in the first year of the partnership. Despite delays with the appointment of a
dedicated project manager and numerous challenges imposed by COVID-19 restrictions (as well as impacts on
individuals, families and businesses), the project has still managed to achieve the following key results in its first year
of operation.

    •    Appointment of a Project Manager for the project, Craig Bohm, who commenced work on the 29th of January
         2020, and is based in Noosa.
    •    Developed the Project Management Plan (also called ‘Implementation Plan’).
    •    Developed the Noosa Risk Assessment, Communications Plan and Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
         (MER) Plan.
    •    Secured endorsement of the Project Management Plan, and associated plans, from the newly elected Noosa
         Council.
    •    Completed preliminary field assessments (baseline surveys) of potential restoration sites in the Noosa River
         estuary.
    •    Completed extensive data reviews and developed the Noosa Habitat Suitability Model and Noosa Restoration
         Suitability Model;
    •    Completed site visits and preliminary assessment for the Noosa ‘Shuck Don’t Chuck’ oyster shell recycling
         project.
    •    Established Shuck Don’t Chuck program with new project partners Mooloolaba River Fisheries (MRF) and
         Resource Recover Australia (RRA).
    •    Provided input to, as well as three expert reviews of the draft Noosa River Plan.
    •    Facilitated two media statements and secured positive media profiling in the local press (see: Media section).




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