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

                            -    Designated channel is widened and mooring buoy locations revised to widen the navigation ‘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.
                            -    The Plan should ensure local laws are consistent with international maritime regulations and consistently understood and applied by Council officers.
                            -    Ensure statements are suitably referenced with accurate data rather than outdated perceptions.
                            -    Investigate the creation of a contact register to enable ease of communication with owners.
                            -    Consider clearer designation of anchoring zones and the cost/benefit of new/additional/redesigned mooring zones and marinas to address current clutter.
                            -    Consider strategies to enhance insurance cover of all vessels.
                       Moorings
                            -    Low mooring fees are described as an “issue” without justification of why it is an issue and appears to be an unsupported perception of Council staff.
                            -    As above, we do not believe vessels regularly break moorings and cause damage.
                            -    Action required
                            -    Remove reference to “low fees” as an issue unless an explanation is provided.
                            -    Correct references to mooring breakages to be based on actual data rather than perceptions.
                       Living on the river
                            -    Noosa Council and Marine Safety Queensland already have sufficient powers to stop houseboats permanently mooring to shore and to control liveaboards
                                 but do not act on them.
                            -    We reject the need for further controls when current regulations are not even monitored or enforced.
                            -    It is our understanding that neither agency enforces regulations unless a complaint is lodged.
                            -    Both agencies are understood to claim lack of resources limits their ability to respond.
                            -    As such, our Association does not support Council’s goal of taking control simply because agencies do not allocate budgets to enforce existing regulations.
                            -    We consider comments that liveaboards use parks but do not pay rates as irrelevant as this analogy applies to every visitor (tourist and/or visiting family
                                 member).
                            -    We consider the task of investigating the relatively small number of boats being used as permanent liveaboards for sewerage discharge records to be a
                                 relatively small task.
                            -    The numbers are only in the dozens and the boats are easily identified.
                            -    We note the report fails to acknowledge there are liveaboards in Woods Bay and along Gympie Terrace, Hilton Terrace and beyond the Tewantin Marina.
                            -    The report does not acknowledge international regulations for marine pollution.
                            -    Actions required by Council
                            -    Council and Marine Safety Queensland to cooperate and ensure 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 and MSQ to identify and address the small number of permanent liveaboards in relation to sewerage.
                            -    Council to address the obvious permanent riverbank moorings between Mill Street and the Noosa Marina.
                            -    Ensure the report is properly referencing all regulations.

Noosa Jetty            Visual impacts
Builders                   -     The description of ‘visual impacts’ of older vessels is inappropriate and Council’s ambition to set aesthetic standards should be amended to reflect State
                                 and Federal legislation.
                           -     Action required
                           - Ensure any references are aligned to State and Federal legislation.

Noosaville Business    Visual impacts (as per comments above with changes or additions)
Association, Noosa         -     The description of ‘visual impacts’ of older vessels is inappropriate and simply asserts Council’s ambition to set aesthetic standards.
Commercial                 -     This should be amended to reflect State and Federal legislation.
Boatman’s                  -     There are actually only a few derelict boats and “mooring minders’ in the Noosa River.
Association                -     Most boats are reasonably maintained and presented.
                           -     The overall standard appears generally consistent with most anchorages and rivers in Australia.
                           -     Action required by Council
                           -     Ensure any references are aligned to State and Federal legislation.
                           -     Remove personal perceptions that are not based on data or marine regulations.

                       Marine Infrastructure

Department of          I note that the draft plan makes several recommendations in relation to marine infrastructure management.
Transport and Main          -     Several of these recommendations highlight the need for accurate data to inform future policies and projects.
Roads – Director            -     In 2017, TMR engaged a consultant to develop a series of forecasts for the future demand of recreational boating facilities.
General Nick                -     These forecasts are available online at www.tmr.qld.gov.au by clicking on (1) ‘Projects’, (2) Projects by name - R’,
Scales                            (3) ‘Recreational Boating Facilities’ and (4) 'Boating infrastructure projects and program - Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study 2017'.
                            -     TMR looks forward to continuing to work with the NC in the future.

Private                Consider supporting the state government to build a new boat ramp near the Ferry on Moorindil Street to take pressure off high parking demand areas.

Private                There is high demand for additional boat launching ramps.

Private                Better access to the lakes should be an outcome, including walkways and boardwalks along Lake Doonella.
                            -    The more connected to the waterway the more people are going to protect and understand its importance.
                            -    This could be achieved along the north western end of Lake Doonella with a loop track and walking trail with minimal impacts (along existing unitywater
                                 infrastructure lines).

Queensland Parks            -    The Upper Noosa River catchment area within protected area is managed in accordance with national park management principles, ensuring riparian
and Wildlife Service             vegetation protection, sustainable use by visitors and environmental impact mitigation of existing and any proposed infrastructure.
(QPWS) and                  -    Within legislatively enshrined management principles, QPWS reserve the right to install, operate and maintain public recreational infrastructure including
Partnerships -                   access jetties, campgrounds, toilet facilities and access trails.
Department of
Environment and
Science
Noosa Jetty            Infrastructure
Builders                    -     Plan notes that there is a high / growing demand for marine infrastructure but fails to comprehensively describe what infrastructure exists, usage, adequacy
                                  and/or issues associated with it.
                            -     Outline what future infrastructure might be required, when and where.
                            -     Distinguish between the infrastructure requirements of recreational users and commercial users.
                            -     In the years Council staff have been rewriting this Plan, baseline research should have been completed to inform an infrastructure plan for inclusion in this
                                  Plan.
                            -     Plan makes multiple references to minimising vessel sewerage into the river but does not address the lack of adequate pump out stations (there is only 1
                                  pump at the Tewantin Marina). Boats using it must moor outside the marina’s lease. Council does not monitor usage.
                            -     Plan makes little reference to the importance of availability and capacity of emergency services operating on the Noosa River.
                            -     Action required

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