2021-01-18 GC - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation 2019 20 Annual Report

                                                     NOOSA BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOUNDATION – 2019/20




Noosa Oyster Reef Restoration Trial: A pilot study to re-establish a lost habitat in the
Noosa River.
The Noosa Oyster Reef Restoration Trial is one                10 of the 14 reefs were removed in February
component of the broader Bring Back the Fish                  2019, due to damage caused by increased
research program, a joint initiative of the Noosa             recreational boating activity on the Noosa River
Biosphere Reserve Foundation, Noosa Parks                     during the Christmas holiday period.
Association and The Thomas Foundation. Bring
Back the Fish aimed to progressively re-establish             Status
and restore resilient natural aquatic ecosystems in           Three of the four remaining reefs were removed
the Noosa Estuary, River and Lakes system                     in October 2020. One reef was not able to be
through three key priorities: Noosa Oyster Reef               removed due to sediment, it is due to be removed
Restoration Trial, Biodiversity in the Noosa                  by mechanical means in Dec 2020. Final report
River and Keeping it in Kin Kin.                              from Ecological Service Professionals due in Dec
                                                              2020.
This pilot study resulted in a $2.4m project
partnership between Noosa Council and world-                  Reports
leading conservation organisation, The Nature                 USC Noosa Reef Restoration Final Report
Conservancy to permanently restore Noosa                      USC Monitoring of the Noosa River Oyster Reefs
River’s oyster reefs.                                         November 2018
                                                              Oyster Reef Restoration Trial 2nd Annual Report
Outcomes
14 artificial trial oyster reefs were installed in the        Proponents
Noosa River system in November 2017.                          Noosa Parks Association Inc. and The Thomas
Monitoring of the reefs in May 2018 showed                    Foundation
strong recruitment of juvenile oysters, with
vigorous growth recorded by November 2018,                    Project Partners
only one year after installation. This positive               University of the Sunshine Coast, Noosa Shire
result shows oysters can be identified and                    Council, Ecological Service Professionals.
developed in our river. All reefs had spat
settlement with an average of 300 spat per square             Media Coverage
metre in May 2018. By October 2019 an average                 Shell-shocker: Nature group says Noosa oyster
of 350 new oysters per m2 of shell were recorded              reefs the real deal
and up to 538/m2 at one of the best performing                The mother lode of Moreton oysters
sites. Ongoing monitoring continues to                        Partnership to improve future of Noosa’s
demonstrate that there is good settlement of                  waterways
baby oysters and that they can survive.


                                                  PROJECT VALUE
       NBRF FUNDING                CASH & IN-KIND              PROJECT VALUE                 LEVERAGE
          $240,975                     $746,500                    $987,475                      4:1




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