2021-08-10 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       10 AUGUST 2021


In regard to the subcommittees, members expressed a clear preference for a single community-
based subcommittee, working in succession through issues, rather than several different
subcommittees that worked on topics in parallel. It was considered that a single subcommittee was
particularly pertinent to the current priority topics of mooring and anchoring, and provided opportunity
for holistic multi-sector debate, and development of integrated solutions. The finalised Terms of
Reference reflects this proposed arrangement.
Mooring, Anchoring and Live Aboards
A key priority for the members has been addressing mooring, anchoring and live aboards due to
overcrowding on the Noosa River. The problem has arisen due to the lack of historical regulations,
allowing vessels to be permanently at anchor on the Noosa River.
A subcommittee was formed following the initial meeting and subsequently met several times to
consider and devise recommendations, particularly to investigate approaches used on other
waterways. The recommendations of the subcommittee are provided as Attachment 2 to this report.
A summary of the recommendations is as follows:
1.    Timed anchoring – a maximum of 28 days anchoring in a financial year. Vessels will be
      required to be removed if exceeding these limits
2.    Moorings - capping moorings at existing numbers of 105, with better use of moorings for visiting
      vessels
3.    Eco-friendly Moorings – transition to eco-friendly moorings from traditional block and chain
      moorings that can cause damage to the sea floor and sea grass beds
4.    Live Aboard Vessels – phasing out permanent live aboards. It was noted that a transition
      program would be staged carefully, firstly with preclusion of new permits, dealing with current
      unlawfully occupied vessels, and then working constructively with current lawful live aboard
      owners.
These proposed provisions apply to privately-owned recreational vessels, and are not applicable to
registered commercial vessels including chartered houseboats and commercial fishing vessels.
It is also important to note that the time limits for anchor vessels will likely provide more, rather than
less capacity for recreational and visiting vessels. At the moment, vessels stored permanently at
anchor on the Noosa River essentially preclude use of that space for other vessels. By removing
permanent vessels, often having not been used for long periods of time, it allows that space for
actively-used recreational and visiting vessels, basically allowing for more turn-over of available
space.
MSQ have expressed in-principal support to take the proposals forward noting that any introduction
of new provisions would require amendment to the Schedules of the Transport Infrastructure
(Waterways Management Regulation) 2012 (TIWMR) which already provides for anchoring, mooring
and aground (beaching) provisions in regulated Sunshine Coast waters, and could be expanded to
articulate additional regulations in the Noosa River. A broad-reaching public consultation program
would be fundamental to this pathway.
MSQ have also expressed the possibility of working with Council to pursue a proposal for a Marine
Zone under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 (TOMSR) which focuses on
the management of water activity behaviours from a safety perspective. An example is the current
Marine Zone in the Noosa River that manages PWCs. The introduction of a Marine Zone might be
the most useful vehicle to prevent anchoring near the shore in areas that are desirably retained for
bathers in the Noosa River (e.g. Pelican Beach).
MSQ have advised they will provide a detailed outline of a program for consultation, review and
refinement of proposed regulations at the NRSAC meeting scheduled for August.
A forecast of key items for future Council consideration include
•     consideration of any Marine Zone proposal


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