2018-07-10 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 8 - Draft Noosa River Plan

Vessels left unattended at anchor for long periods are also an ongoing concern during very high tides and
strong winds, as they frequently break from their restraints or drag anchors.
There are few legislative restrictions regarding anchoring in the Noosa River. There are no provisions
regarding ‘unattended’ anchoring, and no provisions to control the length of stay. There is currently no fee
associated with anchoring, and the current regulation (Transport Infrastructure- Waterways Management-
Regulation 2012) allows boat owners to leave their vessels unattended at anchor indefinitely.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has restricted legislative powers to deal with abandoned and derelict
vessels. Their policy further limits when and where an investigation may be triggered and when it is acted
upon.

Mooring
There are 112 authorised buoy moorings scattered
throughout the length of the river. This number was
capped in 2010 by the Harbour Master who determined




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the river was at capacity and any additional moorings
would compromise marine safety. New requests for




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moorings are placed on a waiting list.
The issues with moorings in the Noosa River relate to:




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   •   Their location contributing to river congestion.
   •	The number of vessels in very poor condition




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      and the visual impact of neglected vessels
      occupying prime positions along the river.




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   •	Scouring of seagrass beds from ‘swing’ type
      moorings located in declared Fish Habitat Areas                 Mooring minders
      (FHA).
                                                                      A ‘mooring minder’ is the term colloquially
   •	Non-compliance with the mooring permit’s                        given to relatively inexpensive boats
      ‘conditions of use’.                                            purchased by a mooring authority
                                                                      permit- holder specifically for the
                                                                      purpose of reserving the mooring space.
                                                                      These vessels are often in very poor
                                                                      condition and are left unattended for
                                                                      long periods of time. Aside from the
                                                                      visual impact of neglected vessels, these
                                                                      can also result in safety concerns and
                                                                      damage to other vessels and property
                                                                      if they sink or break free from their
                                                                      moorings, which are also often poorly
                                                                      maintained.
                                                                      As a ‘condition of use’ for a mooring
                                                                      permit, authorities in some states require
                                                                      a vessel to be visually suitable for the
                                                                      area, and be maintained in a seaworthy
                                                                      condition, which means being capable
                                                                      of undertaking a voyage.




Page 22 l Noosa River Plan