6. Noosa River DMP Ver0 (Combined)

1 Introduction
The Noosa River offers safe anchorage for cruising yachts, mooring locations and recreational
boating opportunities. The river foreshore is one of the most popular recreational areas in the
Noosa Shire. There is increasing demands for recreational, community and commercial use of
the foreshores, particularly during peak holiday times. The lack of riparian vegetation coupled
with high levels of boat wash is creating erosion issues along some reaches of the foreshore
(Noosa Council, 2019). Erosion protection works have been proposed in two locations; one
adjacent to Munna Park, the other along Gympie Terrace foreshore.

Several extraction areas are already authorised within the Noosa River. One additional
extraction area is proposed and will extend existing extraction area 6, adjacent to Hilton
Esplanade.

This report has been prepared to identify if any marine plants are likely to be impacted by the
proposed works along the foreshore and within the Noosa River adjacent to the proposed
extraction and replenishment areas.

Under the Fisheries Act 1994, a person must not unlawfully remove, destroy or damage a marine
plant or cause a marine plant to be removed, damaged or destroyed. The Act defines marine
plants as plants that usually grow on, or adjacent to, tidal land. Marine plants include
mangroves, seagrass, samphires, saltcouch and saltmarsh plants, algae and other tidal plants
growing adjacent to the tidal zone, landward and seaward.

In addition to identifying the location of any marine plants, this Marine Plant Impact Assessment
will identify the impacts to these plants associated with the proposed replenishment/extraction
and provide options for managing and mitigating these risks.

1.1 Scope
Focusing on the footprint of the proposed sand extraction and replenishment zones, this report
aims to:

      •    Identify the location of any marine plants;
      •    Identify the potential impacts to these plants;
      •    Provide options for mitigating or compensating for these impacts; and
      •    Determine if legislative offset requirements are applicable.




Noosa River                                                                              Page 1
Marine Plant Impact Assessment
Project Number: BC-20067