2014-06-17 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                             17 JUNE 2014


Activity         Existing     Community          Seqwater Questions
                              Feedback
Non-             Y            More parking at    Should a boating permit scheme be introduced at all
Motorised                     the boat ramp      Seqwater lakes where boating is permitted to help pay for
Watercraft                                       the ongoing provision and maintenance of recreation
                                                 facilities?
Staff comment:
The Seqwater Cluster Overview Recreation Review Cluster: Lakes Borumba and Lake Macdonald April
2014 advises that Seqwater has to comply with its Statement of Obligations which requires, amongst other
things, to “review opportunities for recreation including strategies to recover costs from users and/or
beneficiaries where appropriate”. As such it is important to consider how the funding for the implementation
of the recommendations and improvements for each lake area will be sourced as part of this planning
process.

On the larger lakes the public have requested Seqwater to increase enforcement due to high usage levels
which have resulted in conflict between users. The fees obtained from the permit scheme would be utilised
to pay the enforcement officers and for recreational infrastructure. At Lake Macdonald however
enforcement is not an issue as usage is relatively local and low level, and requests for additional
infrastructure are minor, thus it is considered that Lake Macdonald should be excluded from any boating
permit scheme introduced by Seqwater.


Fishing          Y            Lake is stocked    Are changes to access for fishing at Lake Macdonald
                                                 required?
Staff comment:
No changes to access for fishing is required.

In terms of stocking the lake, Council has been financially supportive of the Lake Macdonald Fish Hatchery
for several decades. The hatchery has been devoted to the production of Mary River Cod as part of a
conservation stocking program in the Cods natural range.

There is also an opportunity for the fish hatchery to contribute to the breeding of other native fish species
for both fishing and conservation outcomes which need financial support from Seqwater.


Trails           Y            No identified      Do you find the available trails to be satisfactory?
                              issues
Staff comment:
The trails established on and around Lake Macdonald form part of the Noosa Bird Trail and the Noosa Trail
Network, and the Lake Macdonald Canoe Trail, established by Noosa Council between 2003 and 2007.

Currently there is no pathway connection between the lake and the township of Cooroy as the footpath
along Lake Macdonald Drive ends near Swift Drive. It would be desirable for this 2.5km link to be provided
however investigations have revealed the cost of providing a sealed 2m pathway would be in excess of
$750,000, possibly as much as one million and thus cost prohibitive for inclusion in the capital works
program. A lesser standard of pathway may be feasible although any path that is not sealed would be
subject to ongoing maintenance costs. This pathway would be on road reserve which is under Council
control and is not the responsibility of Seqwater.

The pathway between the Lake Macdonald Park picnic area and the fishing platform requires some
attention being covered in leaf matter, duck droppings, tree branches and some tree root damage.

A sealed pathway linking the toilets at Kookaburra Park and Lake Macdonald Park would be ideal. This
pathway could be located on land under Seqwater control.

There is no recognition in the paper regarding the existence of the Noosa Bird Trail site at Jabiru Park
which includes the Fearnley Bird Hide. The Fearnley Bird Hide is a Council asset and contributes to the
recreational opportunities around Lake Macdonald.




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