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

    e. Establish a monitoring and evaluation requirement for climate related indicators
    SCWA should be required to monitor climate relevant metrics such as:
      1. changing river depths;
      2. erosion and shoreline retreat;
      3. vegetation health;
      4. storm impact indicators;
      5. frequency of bar closure or bar hazard changes;
      6. water quality and ecological responses to climatic stressors.

    These metrics are fundamental to adaptive, evidence-based governance.



B7. Risk Mitigation Measures
    To reduce the potential for duplication, conflict and misaligned strategic direction, Council
    recommends the inclusion of the following statutory or policy-based safeguards:
    a. Establish a Joint Waterways Governance Framework
    This framework should set out:
       1. agreed division of responsibilities;
       2. shared protocols for planning, project assessment and communication;
       3. joint decision pathways for complex or contentious proposals;
       4. rules for reconciling navigation priorities with ecological or foreshore objectives.

    b. Formal dispute resolution mechanism
    Where SCWA and Local Government have divergent priorities on matters such as
    infrastructure location, sediment management or foreshore impacts, a formal, transparent
    mechanism should apply, including escalation to the Director-General or an independent
    mediator.
    c. Local Waterway Advisory Panels
    For sensitive waterways such as the Noosa River, Council recommends establishing a Local
    Waterways Advisory Panel comprising:
       1. Council representatives;
       2. Traditional Owners;
       3. community organisations;
       4. environmental scientists;
       5. a ected marine businesses.

    This panel would advise SCWA before major decisions are included in the Strategy or
    Program.
    d. Environmental safeguard requirements


                                                                                                 21