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Appendix E - Operational Management Plan
Plans and drawings: the text below has words only, no drawings.
Queensland Boating & Fisheries Patrol
Russell Street, Noosaville
Operational Requirements & Management
Background
In the late 60’s the site was run by the Queensland Government as a marine biology research facility. The
fisheries patrol operation was established in the 1970’s, comprising an office and boat shed. The site has
continually been used for fisheries patrol operations since that time. The land use had previous minor
expansions prior to the latest boat shed replacement.
The reservation for recreation and camping for the Noosa River Caravan Park (Russell Park) occurred in
1956. The land and amenities have been improved over time. Historically there has been realignment to the
boundaries between the fisheries patrol operation site and the Caravan Park site.
Access to the fisheries operation through the Caravan Park has occurred since inception of the fisheries
land use (as determined by unformed tracks evident from aerial imagery). This access appears to have
become formalised by 1986 with either a formed hardstand or gravel path.
The QBFP Noosa patrols from Coolum Beach in the south to Rainbow Beach in the north. Operations are
undertaken more broadly from Moreton Bay to Fraser Island with resourcing being utilised from within the
North Coast Cluster in order to address compliance issues.
Staffing has remained constant for the last decade with 4 full-time staff.
Function of QBFP
The QBFP enforces fisheries and boating safety laws through surveillance and inspection, as well as
undertaking related education with industry and community groups.
The QBFP at Russell Street looks after the Noosa district, which stretches from Stumer’s Creek in Coolum
to Rainbow Beach. Patrols are conducted at all times of the day and night in sheltered in-shore waters
and offshore waters to 30 nautical miles (approximately 56km). Patrols are to inspect the activities of
recreational and commercial fishers in fresh and tidal waters to ensure they are complying with the
relevant Queensland legislation.
With over 245,000 recreational and 13,000 commercial vessels in use on our waters, compliance is
necessary to ensure both the safe use of waterways and the sustainability of our fisheries resources.
QBFP primary focus is the implementation and enforcement of Queensland's fishing rules and regulations.
The QBFP staff also have enforcement powers under various other State and Commonwealth legislation.
The secondary function of the QBFP is to provide interagency assistance in marine related activities taking
place within the patrol area of the site. Activities undertaken by the QBFP can include:
• Monitor fisheries and marine related matters in the district and more broadly within the North Coast
Cluster.
• Compliance planning and monitoring of fishing rules and regulations;
• Community education related to on water safety and fishing rules and regulations;
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• Search and rescue of missing persons under directions from Qld Police ;
• Patrols in response to reported illegal fishing activities;
• Provide rapid response to and marine animal interactions within Shark Control equipment
• Assistance to other Governmental partner agencies (Queensland Government/Federal Government)
such as Queensland Police Service, Maritime Safety Queensland, Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA).
• Provide a highly visible enforcement presence
The activities of the QBFP provide benefits to the local and regional community by ensuring the
sustainability of marine resources and ensuring the safety of all vessels, mariners and the general public
within the Noosa River and extended patrol area. The Noosaville operation provides essential support to
assist key agencies including the Queensland Police Service and Maritime Safety Queensland to
undertake compliance activities as it’s the only other on-water compliance-based agency in the area.
The Noosaville QBFP is part of a broader group of operations along the coast including branches based in
Mooloolaba and Brisbane to the south and Harvey Bay to the north.
The project objectives are to:
• Provide facilities and infrastructure that support the safe and efficient QBFP operation.
• Provide a design solution that offers spatial flexibility for the storage and manoeuvrability of QBFP
vessels and vehicles, and meets work place health and safety requirements for QBFP staff.
Operational characteristics and requirements
Due to the response nature of the QBFP operations, the facility can operate at any time day or night,
seven days a week. Generally there are 7 planned proactive patrols per fortnight plus additional
responses to other incidents as required.
The QBFP at Russell Street has 4 full-time staff (3 field staff and 1 supervisor) and 1 administration
assistant (1 day per week).
General opening hours are 9am to 4pm however as the administration staffing is not permanent, the office
is only open if an officer is present. If no officer is at the station, signage at the front advises the public to
contact the Mooloolaba office during working hours.
All patrol vessels and vehicles are stored on site when the facility is in an operational status. Staff driving
private vehicles to the site utilise on-street parking.
QBFP Noosaville operate the following vessels and vehicles out of the site:
- 1 x 5.9m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (off shore patrols)
- 1 x 4.5m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (river patrols)
- 1 x 4.2m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (marine animal rescue team)
- 2 x 4x4 dual cab utility vehicles
The site also shares a 7.6m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat with the QBFP Brisbane base which is used for
extended patrols north to Rainbow Beach. This vessel is required to be stored on site when operating from
the Noosaville facility. The availability fo this larger offshore capable vessel ensures a heightened
availability to respond to critical incidents such as marine animal stranding’s and compliance operations
further to the north and in more offshore waters. The incidents of marine animal interactions with the Sark
Control Equipment is an increasing trend, therefore requiring a consideration of vessel availability from
QBFP Noosa.
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The site is used for the routine maintenance of the vessels as well as required post operational washdown
after all patrols. All outboard motors can be washed and flushed without the motors running as to ensure a
minimal noise impact whist these activities are taking place.
The QBFP Noosaville keep a detailed marine activity register of all patrols and inter-agency activities
which they partake in. Since its commencement of operations, no community complaints have been
received by QBFP Noosaville in relation to their operational practices of noise footprint.
Design requirements
The design vessel for the boat shed is a 7.6 m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) – which is the maximum
QBFP will operate via a trailer/tow configuration. The towed vessel dimensions are noted below:
• Vessel height 4.13 m (to all round white light)
• Vessel length 9.1 m
• Width 2.9 m (will vary)
The vessel is within permitted height restrictions for road transport of oversized boats, according to the
Department of Transport and Main Roads ‘Guideline for the safe movement of oversize 'special use' light
trailers and oversize boats on light vehicles’, Form 26, Version 3.4). The maximum permitted height is
stated at being 4.3 m.
Vessel heights is recorded from ground to top of all-round white light mast. Given the configuration and
WH&S the mast is fixed.
The QBFP Noosaville fleet are all stored on trailers and kept within the boat shed when not in use. The
functional requirement of the shed is to have a clear height of 4.2m to allow for the manoeuvring and
storage of the 7.6m RHIB (which has a towed height of 4.13m). The design provides a 70mm clearance
above the vessel which is considered to be appropriate for the safe movement of the vessel.
The indoor storage of the vessels when not in operation is vital to the longevity of operational equipment,
as well as vessel security. In consideration of asset management and budget principles QBFP is required
to operate all vessels for long operational periods. The outdoor storage of vessels is not considered
feasible due to the impact on maintenance and implications for security.
Traffic management and car parking
All QBFP vessels and vehicles are stored within the site.
Operational requirements sometimes require vessels to be relocated to and from the site to other patrol
locations. During these events all ingress and egress vehicle movements are undertaken as a two-person
team, one person driving the vehicle and one person external to the vehicle providing guidance to the
driver. This process ensures the safety of all person’s eternal to the site which may be within the
manoeuvring zone of the QBFP vehicle and vessel.
Hazard lights on vehicles are activated during these manoeuvres. Such operations take place twice a
fortnight on average.
The dual cab patrol vehicles will be accessing the Caravan Park to the shed daily.
Frequency utilising the Caravan Park access for each vehicle / vessel is noted below:
Frequency (utilising the Caravan Park
Type of vehicle/vessel
access)
Dual cab vehicle Daily
Dual cab vehicle Daily
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5.9m vessel Once fortnightly
4.5m vessel Once fortnightly
Periodically during whale migration
4.2m vessel
April to November
7.5m vessel Once fortnightly
Staff who drive to the site in private vehicles utilise street parking in Russell Street. There will generally be
approximately two private staff vehicles utilising on street parking at any one time, although it may vary.
After hours operations
Given the nature of QBFP operations, after hours activities may take place on any day of the year. It is a
requirement for the QBFP to be agile in this sense to ensure adequate response times to patrol area
emergencies, as well as ensuring operational patrols are unpredictable to ensure patrol patterns cannot
be established by those persons undertaking illegal activities.
Consideration is always given by QBFP officers to reduce generated noise during after-hours operations.
Noise generated during these activities are generally limited to the following activities:
- Opening and closing of the storage shed door
- Flushing of boat motors (engine off)
- Washdown of vessels (high pressure hose)
- Opening and closing of car doors
- Opening and closing of facility gates
External light sources utilised on site are limited to an external light outside the front door of the facility and
a single dock light, used for a maximum for 30 minutes during operation start and finish times outside of
daylight hours.
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