2021-01-18 GC - Item 2 - Attachment 3 - Consultation Report River Plan Version 2 (2019-20)

                           -    Action 11. Develop a comprehensive database of boat ramps and jetties and review current management of them in the river system. SUPPORTED. The
                                outcome should inform liaison with MSQ and development of an evidence-based Noosa - Regional Boating Plan by MSQ for the waterway.
                           -    Action 12. Investigate a means of assessing the carrying capacity of the river in terms of marine infrastructure. SUPPORTED BUT NOT TO BE MANAGED
                                BY COUNCIL. MSQ should lead and deliver on this matter in collaboration with DNRME and support from Council for the similar reasons outlined under
                                response to #2 and 3. This work should be rolled into development by MSQ/ TMR of a Noosa – Regional Boating Plan which is built on long-term data /
                                evidence and is framed around a triple bottom line of Social, Economic and Environmental Benefits for the region. The Draft River Plan also makes
                                statements about the influx and increase in boating on the river without any demonstrated evidence of data to support. Council must work with MSQ to
                                develop a robust data capture system to deliver the robust, evidence-based decision making necessary prior to making any significant amends to boating
                                activity.

Noosa North Shore     Our Association has a constituency of residents and land owners - many of whom have properties that directly front the Noosa River - arguably the most in the shire
Association (NNSA)    on a permeant basis whose daily activity has a direct relationship with the river.
                           -   As such, we have unique insights into the issues facing all as well as having a long-term historical understanding of both positives and negatives that
                               impact our river and would therefore like to provide the following formal commentary and feedback on the Draft Noosa River Plan - ver. 2.
                           -   Firstly, we wish to reaffirm our original submission made in August of 2018.
                           -   The underlying principle we have adopted is that we oppose separate management powers being given to Council from the State (and/or the
                               Commonwealth).
                           -   We strongly support the need for the State and its agencies to be given legislative powers where needed and that urgent priority be given to management
                               of the issues raised in the Draft River Plan.
                           -   It is extremely disappointing that many of the issues which have existed for a very long time require little to correct them and that simple prioritisation from
                               the incumbent authority responsible would see marked improvement in many areas.
                           -   For example, on P9 of the Draft it is stated…"Surveys of migratory shorebirds have revealed the Noosa River mouth, sandbanks and adjoining Noosa
                               North Shore as an area of ‘National and International Importance’ for shorebird conservation in Australia. More than 50 species of shorebirds have been
                               recorded, including many species protected under international agreements”. On P27 it is stated ‘To ensure Noosa’s important shorebird habitats are
                               protected from human disturbances, Council, under Local Law 4, established a ‘beach closure’ on the Noosa North Shore adjacent to the river mouth." Yet
                               Council does not police nor manage its own local law. Over the past few weeks, today and in the past, despite a clearly visible sign stating ‘No 4WD
                               access’, up to hundreds of 4WD’s drive in that zone; park there and at times camp there with no fear repercussion for any authority. It is not a complicated
                               matter to resolve.
                           -   In summary, the NNSA Inc. recommends that every issue identified in the Draft be delegated and prioritised with the appropriate State Authority/Agency
                               and that funding be provided and that legislative powers be given to manage and police them as a matter of urgent priority.

Noosa Jetty           Anchoring
Builders                    -    The Plan makes various statements about the regularity of boats breaking free from moorings and causing damage.
                            -    I know of few such incidents to warrant the alarm expressed in this Plan.
                            -    Mechanisms and organisations already exist to respond in a marine incident.
                            -    Council’s involvement will not add value.
                            -    The Plan makes inaccurate statements about the duration that vessels may anchor.
                            -    Action required
                            -    Take more practical action to enhance anchoring and safety in the Noosa River by ensuring:
                            -    Navigation channel markers are improved and well lit.
                            -    Marine Safety Queensland promotes preferred anchorages and highlights poorer holding areas.
                            -    Mooring buoy locations are revised to widen the ‘pinch point’ adjacent to Hilton Terrace.
                            -    Marine Safety Queensland and Coast Guard are given greater assistance (including insurance) when required to intervene with the occasional drifting
                                 vessel.
                            -    Boat owners voluntarily register their details so they can be contacted if their (anchored) vessel drifts from its mooring or is involved in an incident.
                      Moorings
                            -    Low mooring fees are described as an “issue” without justification of why it is an issue or any data.
                            -    It therefore appears to be an unsupported perception of Council staff.
                            -    As above, I do not believe vessels regularly break moorings and cause damage.
                            -    Action required
                            -    Remove reference to “low fees” as an issue.
                            -    Correct references to mooring breakages to refer to them as rare instances.
                      Living on the river
                            -    Council and Marine Safety Queensland already have powers to stop houseboats permanently mooring to shorelines to control liveaboards etc.
                            -    Neither agency enforces these regulations unless a complaint is lodged.
                            -    Both agencies are understood to claim lack of resources are the issue.
                            -    I do not support Council’s goal of taking control simply because MSQ and Council lacks sufficient resources to enforce those existing powers.
                            -    I am aware of complaints being made about such houseboats and Council not acting on them.
                            -    It is irrelevant that liveaboards use parks but do not pay rates as this analogy is applicable to every visitor to the region.
                            -    Action required
                            -    Council and Marine Safety Queensland to secure adequate funding to enforce existing regulations.
                            -    Council to take a proactive approach to riverbank activities rather than wait for complaints.
                            -    Council to address the illegal riverbank village that has been developed on the North Shore of the Frying Pan.
                            -    Council to address the large number of illegal riverbank moorings adjacent to Hilton Terrace.


Noosaville Business   Anchoring (as per comments above with changes or additions)
Association, Noosa        -    The Plan makes various statements about the increased regularity of boats breaking free from moorings and causing damage.
Commercial                -    Our Association knows of few such incidents to warrant the alarm expressed in this Plan.
Boatman’s                 -    Mechanisms and organisations already exist to respond in a marine incident.
Association               -    Council’s involvement will not add value.
                          -    The Plan makes inaccurate statements about the duration that vessels may anchor.
                          -    The Plan does not refer to Noosa Shire Council Subordinate Local Law No. 4.
                          -    Council officers are currently seeking to apply this law to vessels casually anchored for a few hours as well as “stored’ which contradicts international
                               maritime regulations.
                          -    The plan lacks any data to support statements in the Anchoring section and relies on perceptions to argue increased regulation and fees being charged.
                          -    There are actually few instances of vessels breaking free of moorings and causing damage.
                          -    Night navigation is risky because there is no lighting of any navigation beacons.
                          -    The report fails to note that many of the older boats have no engine and are known to be uninsured.
                          -    There is no obligation to register a vessel without an engine resulting in no third party insurance cover or current records of the owner or their contact
                               details.
                          -    The report objects to older and less attractive boats as the cause of issues when many modern, well maintained boats are anchored side by side with the
                               older boats in the same waterway.
                          -    The issues associated with cluttering and anchoring zones should not be generalised to older boats.
                          -    The report notes opposition to new moorings but does not consider the cost / benefit of increasing moorings (or adopting a new mooring layout that
                               increases capacity and safety) as a solution to the broader anchoring issues that are presented.
                          -    Action required by Council
                          -    The Plan should propose practical actions to enhance anchoring and safety in the Noosa River such as:
                          -    Navigation channel markers are improved and well lit.
                          -    Marine Safety Queensland promotes preferred anchorages and highlights poorer holding areas.

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