2014-06-17 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                    17 JUNE 2014


6    LAKE MACDONALD RECREATION MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION PAPER


Author           Senior Strategic Planner, Anne Wilson
                 Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index            PP Planning Projects – PP-03 Recreation Planning inc Trails

Attachments      Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Lake Macdonald Recreation Management Discussion Paper (the paper) has been released
for public comment with comments due 18 th June. Due to the Council Ordinary Meeting date
being 26th June an extension has been sought to submit comments.

The paper outlines matters Seqwater are seeking input on, these include swimming, picnicking,
playgrounds, camping, non-motorised watercraft, fishing, trails, dogs and opening hours.

Seqwater are looking for partnering opportunities with Council and other government
departments, such as Sport and Recreation Services to best deliver any significant new projects
that come out of the recreation review process as they are not explicitly funded for recreation
activities.

It is recommended Council staff write to Seqwater advising the following:
 Council does not support the introduction of swimming in Lake Macdonald;
 Maintenance and upgrade of existing picnic facilities particularly those at Mary River Cod
     Park and Jabiru Park are required;
 Ongoing maintenance of playground facilities is required;
 Recognition of the support Camp Cooroora gives to users of the Noosa Trail Network and
     acknowledgement that it caters for individual campers is required;
 Council supports the ongoing prohibition of motorised watercraft on the lake;
 Lake Macdonald should be excluded from the introduction of boat permit fees;
 Seqwater needs to take a leading role in ongoing efforts to re-establish wild populations of
     Cod;
 Financial support is required from Seqwater to enable the fish hatchery to continue to
     contribute to the breeding of other native fish species for both fishing and conservation
     outcomes;
 Recognition of the existing Fearnley Bird Hide, noting it is a Council asset, is required;
 A pathway linking the toilets at Kookaburra Park and Lake Macdonald Park is required;
 Some pathway maintenance between the Lake Macdonald Park picnic area and the fishing
     platform is required;
 It would be desirable to provide a path linking the lake to the trail head at Swift drive Cooroy;
 Dogs continue to be permitted on leash;
 The introduction of varied hours to better reflect the summer and winter months is supported.
     Suggested hours are: October-April 5.00am-6.30pm, May – September 6.00am-5.30pm;
 All of the native vegetation areas around the lake contribute to habitat for a wide range of
     flora and fauna specifies;
 Investigate the status of studies being undertaken by the CSIRO regarding biological controls
     for Cabomba caroliniana;
 Request that Seqwater take a lead role in facilitating the reformation and operation of the
     Lake Macdonald Catchment Care Group.



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