NOOSA RIVER STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMARY REPORT · Report

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                 6 JUNE 2023


Achievements

At its first meeting, of the NRSAC, MSQ noted that management of the Noosa River was now, “a
key focus of MSQ”. This included delivering on a range of current initiatives including:
   •   Appointment of a dedicated Noosa River Patrol Officer and dedicated MSQ office.
   •   Speeding in the Noosa River including collecting and analysing speeding data and
       addressing behaviour.
   •   Promotion of an education brochure “Know your Waterway”.
   •   Updates to navigation aids including beacons and buoys.
   •   War on Wrecks program – removal of multiple abandoned vessels from the Noosa River.
   •   Boat ramp education signage.
   •   Regulations governing “liveaboard” vessels, limitations and management options including
       anchoring restrictions.
At subsequent meetings, Committee members alongside Council and MSQ presented various
material to assist with joint initiatives, including, but not limited to:
   •   Discussion papers and recommendations on anchoring and mooring.
   •   Proposed river strategy and management frameworks.
   •   Noosa River datasets including vessel and trailer numbers.
   •   Advice on speed limits.
   •   Advice on the Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives for the Noosa River
       system.
   •   A project plan to support clean up and removal of unlawful structures and stored vessels,
       and rehabilitation along the North Shore of the river next to Frying Pan Track.
   •   A Seagrass Distribution Study.
   •   An Options Paper, proposed management plan and maps for review of Noosa River
       regulations.
   •   A vessel audit to assist with the proposed management plan.
   •   Noosa River Estuary Assessment of Urban Land-Use Pressures.
The significant voluntary contribution of NRSAC members throughout the Committee’s two-year
term, and MSQ’s efforts, are noted and appreciated.

Noosa River Planning - next steps

Following community feedback on the draft Noosa River Plan in 2019, the plan was put on hold to
allow for the creation of a river stakeholder committee to provide advice on the priorities of the final
plan. The NRSAC provided important feedback on a range of matters with specific focus on
anchoring and mooring reforms via MSQ.

An audit of all actions outlined in the 2019 draft Noosa River Plan has been completed and is being
reviewed and refined. It is intended that an updated plan be developed to provide a clear plan and
framework for all stakeholders with an interest in contributing to the health, safety and amenity of the
river and broader catchment.

A report on an updated draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan will be brought to a future
meeting of Council in the coming months and will outline resource requirements for implementation
of the plan.

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                6 JUNE 2023


Link to Corporate Plan

Theme No 1. - Environment

   •   Objective 1.1: Maintain and improve water quality and the health of waterways, wetlands and
       catchments
   •   Objective 1.2: Partner with landowners and community groups to manage, protect and
       regenerate natural environment assets, improve resilience, and incorporate Indigenous
       knowledge.
   •   Objective 1.5: Deliver expanded vegetation networks, rehabilitation and habitat across the Shire
       and advocate to the State and Federal Government to assist funding environmental action.



Previous Council Consideration
While there is a long history of Council consideration of Noosa River management options, the
following resolutions relate to the NRSAC.

Ordinary Meeting Minutes 16 July 2020, Item 8, Page 8 (Oyster Reef Restoration)
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the Planning & Environment
Committee meeting dated 7 July 2020 and:
   A. Approve the Project Management Plan (provided as Attachment 1 to the report) as meeting
      the requirement of the Project Implementation Plan outlined in the Alliance & Funding
      Agreement subject to Council appointing an independent scientific expert to provide a review
      of the project’s Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Plan. The review is to include an
      assessment of the effectiveness of the methodology, project’s goals, measures, outputs and
      outcomes within the context of ecological restoration and the terms of the three year contract,
      and recommendations (if any) for improvement to be included in the Monitoring and
      Evaluation Plan; and
   B. Note the Terms of Reference of the Noosa River Oyster Restoration Project Technical
      Advisory Group (provided as Attachment 2 to the report); and
   C. Establish a Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group to provide strategic input, local
      knowledge and expertise into River Management initiatives, initially providing input into this
      Shellfish Restoration project and more broadly into finalisation and implementation of the
      Noosa River Plan, and
   D. Delegate to the CEO to determine the Terms of Reference and undertake a process to
      establish the Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group together with the appropriate role
      for Councillor representation on that Group.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes 21 January 2021, Item 8, Page 6
That Council note the report by the Environment Services Manager and Environment Officer (Rivers
and Coast) to the General Committee Meeting dated 18 January 2021
and:
   A. Note the consultation reports for the two periods of public consultation on the Noosa River
      Plan, from 20 July to 26 August 2018 and 02 December to 10 January 2020.
   B. Note the Draft Terms of Reference for the joint Noosa Shire Council and Maritime Safety
      Queensland Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee and
   1. Request Maritime Safety Queensland to agree to amend the draft terms of reference to
      increase the number of committee members up to 12; and
   2. Further note that the Draft Terms of Reference will be reviewed by the Noosa River
      Stakeholder Advisory Committee at its first meeting.

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                6 JUNE 2023


   C. Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to make amendments to the Terms of Reference for
      the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee in consultation with Maritime Safety
      Queensland following any feedback from the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
   D. Request the CEO to report back to Council in March 2021 on the proposed membership of
      the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee and further, request Maritime Safety
      Queensland to work with Council to ensure that the first meeting of the committee occurs
      within one month of the finalisation of the committee membership.
   E. Appoint Councillor Stewart to be an observer at meetings of the Noosa River Stakeholder
      Advisory Committee.
   F. Acknowledge and welcome the permanent presence of Maritime Safety Queensland in
      Noosa and resolve that, while MSQ maintains an active presence, Noosa Shire Council no
      longer seeks to take over management of anchoring, mooring and living on board on the
      Noosa River.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes 18 March 2021, Item 9, Page 24
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the Ordinary Meeting dated
18 March 2021 about the outcome of the Expression of Interest process for the Noosa River
Stakeholder Advisory Committee; and
   A. Request that MSQ agree to add to the Committee the 2 highest scoring shortlisted women,
      Agnes Reed and Jo-Anne Daley, to ensure better gender balance on the Committee; and
   B. Request that MSQ agree to amend the Terms of Reference to allow for 14 members on the
      Committee.

Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes 10 August 2021, Item 6, Page 24
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 10 August 2021 providing an update on outcomes of the recently formed
Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee.


Finance
Funding has been sought through the 2023/24 budget to progress priority actions for the Noosa
River and this forms part of budget deliberations. External funding opportunities will also be actively
pursued.


Risk & Opportunities
 A key opportunity now exists to finalise the Noosa River Catchment plan, as authorised in Council’s
Corporate Plan, to provide a clear blueprint for management activities and priorities in the new
financial year.

Council will also continue to seek opportunities to involve Kabi Kabi representatives in river
management and cultural awareness activities.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
The Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee provided useful input and advice on river related
management issues and were instrumental in driving MSQ the draft anchoring and mooring reforms.

The Committee completed its two year term as set out in the Terms of Reference and Council will

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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                     6 JUNE 2023


continue to explore future opportunities for stakeholders input as part of the finalising of the Noosa
River Catchment Management Plan.

Internal Consultation
Consultation with relevant departments and officers has been ongoing.
Internal consultation with all departments will be held in the lead up to the Councillor workshop.

Departments/Sections Consulted:

     Mayor                         Community Services                          Corporate Services

     Councillors                   Director                                    Director

                                   Community Development                       Financial Services

     Chief Executive Officer       Community Facilities                        Fleet

     Executive Support             Libraries & Galleries                       ICT

                                   Local Laws                                  Procurement

                                   Waste & Environmental Health                Property

                                                                               Revenue Services



     Executive Services            Environment & Sustainable Development       Infrastructure Services

     Director                  X   Director                                X   Director

     Community Engagement          Building & Plumbing Services                Asset Management

     Customer Service              Development Assessment                      Buildings and Facilities

     Governance                    Economic Development                        Civil Operations

     People and Culture        X   Environmental Services                      Disaster Management

                               X   Strategic Land Use Planning                 Infrastructure Planning,
                                                                               Design and Delivery