2016-09-06 S&O Committee - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan

Landslide hazard areas are depicted within the planning scheme across the Noosa Shire
based an analysis of slope and underlying geology. This is used to assist in determining the
suitability of different parts of the shire for higher intensity development (eg. urban or land
subdivision) and how risks can be mitigated. The code provisions seek to avoid development
in landslide hazard areas and require the adoption of management measures to ensure the
long term stability of development sites.
Acid Sulfate Hazard Areas
Acid sulfate soils within Noosa Shire largely occur in low lying areas below 2m AHD,
adjacent to estuarine waterways. These problem soils if exposed to oxygen following
excavation or drainage have the potential to impact on the ecology of adjacent receiving
waters; buildings, structures and reinforced concrete that are vulnerable to corrosion; and
agricultural land due to the effects of increased acidity.
The planning scheme identifies high potential acid sulfate soil areas (0-5m AHD) and low
potential acid sulfate areas (5m-20m AHD). The code provisions seek to avoid disturbance
to these soils as a first principle and careful management of the release of acid or associated
metal contaminants to mitigate potential risk.

3.7    Counter terrorism risk management
Following the Lindt Café incident in Sydney the terrorism threat level across Australia is
deemed to have heightened. A counter-terrorism risk assessment for the Sunshine Coast
region (including Noosa) has been carried out by The Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The results of this assessment are confidential and are held by the QPS who are the lead
agency for counter terrorism.
In the event of a terror incident in Noosa the QPS will manage the policing response and the
Sunshine Coast DDC will coordinate any associated disaster management response. The
DDC may call upon the Noosa LDMG for resources or to undertake appropriate response
and recovery activities in support of the community.

3.8    Climate change
The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) – has stated that:

“Ongoing coastal development and population growth in areas such as Cairns and
Southeast Queensland are projected to exacerbate risks from sea-level rise and increases in
the severity and frequency of storms and coastal flooding by 2050”
(IPCC 2007)

While it is considered that climate change will have little effect on current disaster
management operations, Queensland Government climate change summaries indicate
south-east Queensland could face major challenges as a result of drier and warmer
conditions.
Coastal regions could face challenges due to a rise in sea-level combined with increased
coastal development and rapid population growth.
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters
including major storms, droughts, heat waves, bushfires and flooding. Disaster management
operations are at the frontline in preparing for such events, in preventing the worst forms of
damage and harm and in managing post-event recovery. Because the way we plan for
disaster today can affect the way we cope in future, disaster management efforts can benefit
from an understanding of local climate change trends, projections and impacts.
Knowledge of climate change enables collaborative effort towards building adaptive capacity
within the community and across levels of government. It avoids making decisions that may


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