2020-07-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - TNC Project Management Plan

Examples of Key messages

    Primary message
    1 Restoring shellfish ecosystems will re-establish a previously common ecosystem in the Noosa River estuary
        and boost estuary health by helping to clean the water, enhance biodiversity and increase fish life.
    2 This project is part of a suite of environmental initiatives delivered under the Noosa River Plan designed to
        improve the environmental health and recreational vale of the estuary.
    3 This project is part of TNC’s national shellfish restoration project that aims to rebuild 60 shellfish
        ecosystems across Australia. If achieved, the project will proclaim Australia the first nation in the world to
        have recovered a critically endangered marine ecosystem. Shellfish restoration projects in Melbourne’s
        Port Phillip Bay and South Australia’s Gulf St Vincent have already been completed with others underway
        near Adelaide, SA; Perth and Mandurah, WA, and now Noosa, QLD.

Secondary messages

    •    Shellfish ecosystem restoration works in tandem with various other estuary and catchment management
         initiatives to support the health of the Noosa River under increasing challenges such as population
         growth and climate change impacts (they are not a silver bullet but enhance overall estuary resilience).
    •    Shellfish ecosystems were once common in the Noosa River estuary. These were extensively
         commercially harvested in the late 1800s and along with changes in catchment land use and urban
         development, these impacts are collectively responsible for their decline.
    •    This project is a collaborative effort. Its success depends on working with a wide range of stakeholders
         including government, scientists, industry, indigenous groups and community groups.
    •    As well as improving estuary health, this project provides opportunities for community engagement,
         education and industry participation through shell recycling and ecosystem monitoring.
    •    Previous trials undertaken in the Noosa River were just that – trials. It was not anticipated at the time
         that the final shellfish ecosystems would look anything like the initial experimental shell-filled coir bags.
         Previous trials, and studies, have helped answer questions around oyster spat availability, interaction
         with adjacent habitats, human recreation impacts and siltation.
    •    This project has been made possible by the generous support of Noosa Shire Council, The Nature
         Conservancy, The Thomas Foundation and Australian Marine Conservation Society.
    •    People interested in learning more about the project, becoming involved or providing a donation, can
         contact Project Manager, Craig Bohm ([email protected]), or visit The Nature Conservancy website at
         http://natureaustralia.org.au

Communication goals

A. Improve awareness amongst local community, businesses and visitors on the objectives and outcomes of the
   project and need for the Noosa River Plan and associated activities.
B. Spark greater community interest and stewardship in supporting shellfish restoration and wider estuary
   health.
C. Encourage further funding support in the project (i.e. to support more habitat restoration, ongoing
   monitoring, and/or local training and/or employment opportunities.
D. Acknowledge project funders and supporters and demonstrate our commitment to project delivery.

We will do this by:
   i.    Promoting all newsworthy stages of the project to print, TV, radio and online media through media
         statements, media briefings and social media channels.
  ii.    Building general community awareness of the project through face-to-face interactions such as guest
         presentations and workshops.
 iii.    Building key stakeholder and donor awareness of the project through targeted briefings and site trips.

Primary media contact for all media queries
Tony Jupp, Associate Director of Communications, The Nature Conservancy. Email: [email protected]


49 | Bring Back the Fish MER plan 2020 – 2022