2022-04-12 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     12 APRIL 2022


REPORT
At the July 2019 Ordinary Meeting, Noosa Council endorsed entering into an Alliance & Funding
Agreement with international conservation organisation The Nature Conservancy, establishing a
strategic partnership for the primary purpose of undertaking oyster ecosystem restoration in the
Noosa River over three years.
The Alliance and Funding Agreement provides for a series of deliverables and measurable
outcomes to be achieved over the 3 years. This report provides Council with one of those key
milestones, a six monthly progress report.
The Agreement specifies that TNC will provide 6 monthly reports to Noosa Council on the progress
and status of delivery of Phase II and Phase III of the shellfish restoration project, including
expenditure against grant monies provided by Council.
Significant attachments have been submitted by TNC to this report. The following summarises
each of the attachments:
Noosa Oyster Project 6 Monthly Report
•     the project has not as yet received the Resource Allocation Authority (RAA) from the
      Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Queensland Government to establish the
      reefs in the river bed
•     a general Fisheries Permit has been obtained from the Queensland Government for oyster
      handling
•     a comprehensive operational works application for prescribed tidal works has been received
      by Council and is currently being assessed
•     construction methodology and selection of contractor is well advanced
•     significant community and stakeholder consultation and engagement has occurred about the
      project.
Due to delays in obtaining the RAA, it is proposed that construction will be programmed over the
coming winter months, and oyster seeding occurring spring 2022 being the optimal time.
The original program outlined in the Funding and Alliance Agreement indicated reef placement by
July 2021, and this amended program will be over 12 months behind the initially agreed schedule.
In this regard the report notes:
      There is no efficient state planning and approvals process for marine restoration in
      Queensland. TNC has had to navigate multiple layers of tenure and environmental
      protection over the Noosa River and has required the development of sophisticated
      restoration and site management plans, detailed risk assessments, multiple regulatory
      code and environmental assessments, ecological mapping, and site engineering, as
      well as multiple contingency measures for the construction and site management
      aspects of the project. While TNC supports the thoroughness of the process, it has
      taken more time than was originally forecast in the partnership agreement to negotiate
      Queensland’s development approvals process.
It is apparent to staff that the Noosa River Oyster restoration project is leading and establishing a
precedent for aquatic restoration in Australia, with no similar other permanent restoration projects
underway in waterways of a similar tenure.
Council officers are in regular discussions with DAF about the status of the RAA.




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