MAYORAL MINUTES · Attachment 1 to the Ordinary Meeting Minutes dated 19 March 2026 - Noosa Council Submission_SCWA Bill 2026

While Council recognises the importance of Ministerial oversight for statutory authorities, the
potential for Ministerial directions to influence infrastructure priorities, navigation management
or sediment interventions raises questions regarding transparency and local consultation.

Council therefore seeks clarification on:

   1. whether local governments will be notified of Ministerial directions that materially a ect
      waterways within their jurisdiction;
   2. whether local governments will have an opportunity to provide input prior to the issuance
      of such directions where they relate to infrastructure or navigation priorities; and



A9 (a). Precise Clarification of Extent
Noosa Council seeks precise clarification on the spatial extent of the “Sunshine Coast
waterways”. Part 1, clause 7 of the Bill defines “Sunshine Coast waterways” by listing nominated
river systems and lakes “below the High Water Mark” and “waterways adjoining” those systems,
including the Noosa River and its adjoining waterways within the Noosa Shire Council area, as
well as Lakes Cootharaba, Cooroibah, Doonella and Weyba, among others.
While Council acknowledges this definition, two areas require explicit clarification:
1) Noosa Waters (Canal Estate)
      The Bill’s wording (e.g., “waterways adjoining the waterways” and “below the High-Water
       Mark”) could be interpreted to include engineered canal estates such as Noosa Waters,
       where Common Lake areas connect to the Noosa River system.
      Council requests confirmation of whether Noosa Waters’ canal network is included in the
       SCWA jurisdiction as “adjoining” waterways, and if so, the precise delineation of
       boundaries (e.g., to the landward toe of revetment walls, to mapped high water mark, or
       to a designated waterway cadastral parcel).
      For avoidance of doubt and to support consistent asset management and community
       engagement Council requests provision of a statutory map or schedule clarifying the
       inclusion or exclusion of Noosa Waters canals from SCWA’s waterway definitions.
       Reasoning: The Bill hinges on the phrase “adjoining” and “below high-water mark” (s 7),
       which, in practice, can be ambiguous for constructed canal systems integrated with
       natural waterways.
2) Upper Noosa River / “Everglades”
      The Bill lists the Noosa River and adjoining waterways within the Noosa local government
       area, which, as a matter of ordinary meaning, appears to include the upper Noosa River
       reaches and connected creeks commonly referred to as the “Everglades”.




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