Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                  6 JUNE 2023


6.1     NOOSA RIVER STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMARY REPORT


Author             Principal Environment Officer - River Strategy & Engagement, Amy Kimber
                   Strategy and Environment and Sustainable Development Department
Index              Waterways/ Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee/ 63.08/
                   22419832
Attachments        None


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report summarises the achievements of the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee
during its two-year term from April 2021 to March 2023, and sets out a path forward for completion
of a Noosa River Catchment Management Plan, which is recognised as a signature project in Noosa
Council’s Corporate Plan 2023-2026.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee Summary Report by the
Principal Environment Officer – River Strategy and Engagement to the Planning and Environment
Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023, and:
      A. Note the achievements and outcomes of the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee
         and Maritime Safety Queensland, as well as next steps for Noosa River planning; and
      B. Request that a Thank You letter be sent to Committee members from the Mayor.


REPORT
At the 7 July 2020 Planning & Environment Committee meeting a Council resolution was carried to,
“Establish a Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group to provide strategic input, local knowledge
and expertise into river management initiatives, initially providing input into the Shellfish Restoration
project and more broadly into finalisation and implementation of the Noosa River Plan.”

An expression of interest (EOI) process was conducted to invite representatives from a range of
sectors including commercial and recreational fishing, commercial and recreational boating,
conservation and natural resource management, commercial operators on the river, tourism
operators, and Traditional Owners/Indigenous community (Kabi Kabi).

Representatives from all sectors apart from the Kabi Kabi submitted EOIs, and the Noosa River
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (NRSAC) was subsequently established with its first meeting held
on 14 April 2021. The Committee was co-chaired by Noosa Council’s CEO and the General Manager
of Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ).

The Committee was united on a request for MSQ to implement an overall vessel reduction strategy
by implementing a 28-day limit in any financial year on anchoring in the Noosa River.

After several rounds of consultation with the Committee, MSQ presented a proposed approach and
released this for broad public consultation throughout December 2022 and January 2023.

More than 800 submissions were received across the State and MSQ is now considering the
feedback with hopes to implement broad-ranging reforms before the end of 2023. The legislative
mechanism proposed to bring about these reforms is an amendment to the Noosa River Marine
Zone, Schedule 5 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016.




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