2020-01-13 GC Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 1 - Report on the Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group

What Next?
Noosa Council will continue to roll out and investigate transport options. The STSRG and the Transport
Strategy Steering Group will provide ideas and recommendations.
Noosa Council will continue to work with Translink and DTMR on transport solutions with a forward focus.
In particular, technological advances will be woven into solutions.
Further work and community consultation needs to occur on the matter of paid parking.
Council needs to expedite new technology solutions including the shift to electric and/or hydrogen vehicles.
More analysis needs to be undertaken on the feasibility of restricting vehicle access, either through a
congestion tax or some other limiting mechanism that reduces the numbers of vehicles entering key
precincts.

5. Environmental Impacts




The environmental impact of tourism has probably received the least consideration by the STSRG.
There is certainly a perception amongst residents that tourists contribute to increased pollution, noise
amenity, litter etc. Indeed, a survey funded by Council and TN (see attachment), found that three-quarters
of those surveyed believed tourism contributed to increased pollution and noise. There is also an
acknowledgement that tourists contribute to greenhouse gases, most particularly as a result of transport
modes to visit Noosa.
More direct impacts include loss of biodiversity and other human impacts at popular sites such as the
headland section of the Noosa National Park. The tidal fairy pools near Granite Bay used to house many sea
creatures including soft coral, but thanks to recent popularity are now largely devoid of life.
And, of course, the Noosa River also feels the impacts of tourism as the busiest waterway in SEQ.
News and social media reporting have also focussed at times on the impacts of 4-wheel drive vehicles on
Teewah Beach and particularly the frontal dunes.

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