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

          a.   tidal works approval pathways;
          b.   foreshore land use planning;
          c.   dredging and sediment management;
          d.   public marine facility upgrades.
   2. Require SCWA to demonstrate consistency with local government planning instruments,
      including:
          a. Council endorsed land use masterplans;
          b. local planning schemes;
          c. environmental and coastal management plans.


B2. Recommendation: Inclusion of a Statutory Local Government Representative on the
    SCWA Board
   Noosa Council recommends that the Bill be amended to provide for a designated local
   government representative for each Local Government on the SCWA Board. This
   amendment would ensure that local knowledge, community expectations and place-based
   planning considerations are embedded at the highest level of the Authority’s strategic
   decision-making.
   Under the Gold Coast Waterways Authority Act 2012, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority
   (GCWA) is governed by an independent board appointed by the State. The GCWA Board
   comprises members with diverse professional and community backgrounds, deliberately
   selected to reflect strong local knowledge and on ground experience in the Gold Coast’s
   waterways and related industries. The GCWA model emphasises local representation,
   industry familiarity and community responsiveness through its board structure and
   governance approach. [gcwa.qld.gov.au] The Gold Coast Waterways Authority provides a
   seat on the board for the Mayor of Gold Coast City Council.
   Drawing from this precedent, it is essential that the SCWA whose jurisdiction spans multiple
   local government areas formally embed local government representation within its
   governance structure. The Sunshine Coast waterways, including the Noosa River, possess
   diverse ecological conditions, cultural significance and community values that di er
   markedly across the region. Reliance solely on ministerial appointments without a
   mandated council representative risks board decisions being detached from the place
   specific context, longstanding local planning frameworks and established environmental
   stewardship responsibilities held by councils.
   A statutory position for a Noosa Council representative (or at minimum, one nominated local
   government member from within the SCWA region) would:
      1. ensure local expertise, catchment knowledge is incorporated directly into strategic
         deliberations;



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