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

                           -    Plan should define and assess the reasonable infrastructure requirements of both recreational users and commercial users now and into the future.
                           -    Specifically, the report should address known infrastructure issues including adequacy of boat ramps and associated parking
                           -    Feasibility of dry rack storage facilities being installed to alleviate demand on ramps
                           -    Development of a commercial ferry station / jetty at the Noosa Woods end of Hastings Street to replace the ‘Sofitel jetty’ which is a small, private jetty being
                                used for commercial purposes in a narrow inlet that is regularly blocked when used
                           -    Ensuring marine repair facilities meet requirements
                           -    Ensuring adequate pump out stations
                           -    Lighting all navigation markers throughout the river
                           -    Ensuring marine facilities are flood proof
                           -    Ensuring river mouth is navigable
                           -    Ensuring adequate public jetties.
                           -    Plan should assess options to increase availability and demand for pump out stations including providing them free of charge to maximise usage.
                           -    Plan should assess the adequacy of emergency services and marine facilities to support them in terms of protecting users and environment in a marine
                                incident.
                           -
Noosaville Business   Infrastructure (as per comments above with changes or additions)
Association, Noosa         -     Plan describes the growing usage of the river but fails to adequately or comprehensively address marine infrastructure currently or future requirements
Commercial                       including
Boatman’s                  -     Does not comprehensively describe what infrastructure exists, usage, adequacy and/or issues associated with it.
Association                -     Outline what future infrastructure might be required, when and where based on factual assessments rather than biased political agendas to constrain
                                 capacity.
                           -     Distinguish between the infrastructure requirements of recreational users and commercial users.
                           -     Consider options for new or different locations of any infrastructure.
                           -     In the four years Council staff have been writing this Plan, baseline research should have been completed to inform an infrastructure overlay for the river.
                           -     Plan makes multiple references to minimising vessel sewerage into the river but does not address the lack of adequate pump out stations.
                           -     Plan does not address Council waste treatment plants and their potential risks to associated waterways. In December 2019, Lions Park and Witta Circle
                                 areas were again displaying signage warning of sewerage leaks into the river. Council and business’ sewerage infrastructure should be made foolproof.
                           -     Plan gives little regard to the availability and capacity of emergency services operating on the Noosa River. Volunteer organisations have limited capacity.
                           -     The Plan fails to adequately address current infrastructure and future requirements giving only passing mention to commercial and private jetties.
                           -     A detailed infrastructure assessment and plan is required to account for essential economic infrastructure including
                           -     Adequacy of public jetties
                           -     Adequacy of boat ramps and associated parking
                           -     Adequacy of ferry and charter boat terminals
                           -     Adequacy of boat repair facilities / slipway infrastructure
                           -     Adequacy of pump out facilities
                           -     Adequacy of marina/s
                           -     Potential for dry stack storage for vessels.
                           -     Action required by Council
                           -     Plan should define and assess the reasonable infrastructure requirements of both recreational and commercial users now and into the future.
                           -     Specifically, the report should consider known infrastructure issues including
                           -     Adequacy of boat ramps and associated parking
                           -     Adequacy of commercial jetties, ferry terminals and charter boat facilities
                           -     Adequacy of boat repair facilities / slipway infrastructure
                           -     Adequacy of pump out facilities
                           -     Adequacy of marina/s
                           -     Potential for dry stack storage for vessels
                           -     Lighting all navigation markers throughout the river
                           -     Ensuring marine facilities are flood proof
                           -     Ensuring river mouth is navigable
                           -     Ensuring adequate public jetties (noting that some jetties are so high that they are unable to be used by boats)
                           -     Community access to foreshores and river areas (eg. Wheelchair ramps, foreshore facilities etc).
                           -     Plan should assess options to increase availability and demand for pump out stations including providing them free of charge to maximise usage.
                           -     Plan should address risks associated with Council waste treatment plants and sewerage infrastructure that will result in pollution if breakdown or damaged.
                           -     Plan should assess the adequacy of emergency services and marine facilities to support them in terms of protecting users and environment in a marine
                                 incident.
                           -     Prepare a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the Noosa River to guide future decision making.
                      Waste Water (page 48)
                           -     Dot point 3 [page 49) states “Noosa Marina and the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club has disposal facilities” and infers that these two sites provide adequate
                                 services for the river users.
                           -     We note that Noosa Yacht Club’s pump out facilities are however only for its members and may not be used by non-members as the Club does not have a
                                 commercial jetty.
                           -     We also note that a vessel using the Noosa Marina’s facilities will be moored outside the boundary of its commercial lease. Noosa Council is currently
                                 prosecuting Pelican Boat Hire for this practice.
                           -     As such, the Plan should state that no legal pump out stations are available in the Noosa River and put forward a specific strategy to develop a public
                                 pump out station and other strategies to minimise sewerage releases from vessels in the river.
                           -     Action required by Council
                           -     Amend the report to note that the pump out stations are not available based on Council’s own guidelines (seeking to restrict commercial activities to
                                 commercial jetties and ensure vessels using those facilities are moored completely within their lease boundary).
                           -     As such, Council must commit to provide a public pump out station to ensure there is a legal and accessible solution to pump out sewerage from vessels.
                           -     Consider alternatives to pump out stations such as a sewerage boat that visits moored vessels and takes their waste to a pump out station.

Noosaville Business   Recreational Boating
Association, Noosa        -    The second paragraph notes that increased demand for infrastructure can affect user’s enjoyment of the waterways however the draft river plan fails to
Commercial                     assess current or future infrastructure requirements to manage and mitigate this problem.
Boatman’s                 -    The plan fails to properly assess safety risks for recreational users or the lack of enforcement of existing powers.
Association               -    For example, a key safety risk affecting the river and its users is the number of unlicensed, unsupervised minors (often in unregistered vessels with fake
                               horsepower stickers) with little knowledge of marine rules operating dangerously around swimmers and the river generally.
                          -    Similarly, bridge jumpers and vessels travelling at night without lights are not recognised as significant risks which can be mitigated.
                          -    Action required by Council
                          -    Comprehensively assess infrastructure requirements.
                          -    Comprehensively assess safety issues affecting recreational and commercial river users and propose strategies to mitigate those risks.
                          -    Recent compliance blitz by MSQ in Dec ’20 addressed the youths in unlicensed unregistered vessels with fake horsepower sticker. Refer MSQs overview
                               of their blitz activity (email? media release?)

Private               I’d like to see dredging in the river mouth

Private               There needs to be a safer option to the existing moving and dangerous Noosa bar.
                          -    In 1990's images the river mouth runs next to the northern breakwater.
                          -    From experience this is how most world ports control their exit and entry to ports.
                          -    It only required a dredging after an in depth study of long term sand movement.

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