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

responsibilities relating to commercial use approvals, lease administration, operating
agreements, priority access rights, or conditions of use for ferry infrastructure.
Such ambiguity has material implications for the Noosa Ferry service, whose operational
continuity relies on stable tenure, predictable access, and clear regulatory pathways for both
current and future infrastructure needs. To ensure certainty for commercial operators and avoid
unintended regulatory duplication or disruption to public transport services, Council requests
technical clarification on:
   1. whether SCWA will have any statutory authority over commercial leasing or tenure
      decisions,
   2. how the Authority’s management of public marine facilities will interact with existing
      lease instruments and Department of Resources processes, and
   3. how transitional arrangements will be administered to ensure continuity of service should
      responsibilities be reassigned.
The same clarification of future administration is sought for other commercial operations that
utilise public marine infrastructure.


A11. Separate Waterways Management Strategies and Programs for Distinct River Systems
Noosa Council seeks clarification on whether the Bill intends for the Authority to prepare a single,
regionwide Waterways Management Strategy and Program or whether the legislation allows, or
anticipates, the development of separate, system specific strategies and programs for individual
waterways such as the Noosa River, Maroochy River, Mooloolah River and Pumicestone Passage.
The Bill requires SCWA to prepare a 10 year Waterways Management Strategy and a 3 year rolling
Waterways Management Program, however the legislation does not explicitly indicate whether
this must be a single regional strategy or whether system-specific strategies may be developed.
Given the distinct environmental character and community values of the Noosa River system, a
single, regionwide framework may not provide the level of precision, responsiveness or place
based management required. The Noosa River is unlike other Sunshine Coast waterways in its
shallow estuarine form, high conservation significance, national and international environmental
value, and longstanding community expectation for low impact, environmentally sensitive
management. Its upper reaches including the area colloquially known as the Noosa Everglades
are among Australia’s most pristine riverine ecosystems, requiring management settings that
di er significantly from high intensity motorised boating environments such as the Mooloolah
River or southern waterways.
Council therefore requests clear advice on:
   1. Whether SCWA may develop separate strategies or sub strategies for individual river
      systems to ensure each waterway’s unique ecological, cultural and recreational values
      are properly addressed.



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