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

                           -    I hope the Council includes these well overdue actions as part of its Final Plan as I have no doubt unless changes are made there eventually will be
                                fatalities or serious injuries on the river, directly related to inappropriate speed limits and reckless behaviour by an unacceptable percentage of the ever
                                increasing number of motorised craft operators.
                           -    Of great concern to me is that nearly every aspect requires cooperation from a government or semi government authority as a "Partner".
                           -    History dictates that unless the Council is supported by a committed Community and takes a strong stance on various issues, genuine progress with
                                “Partners" is most unlikely and there is a good chance the whole Plan could become like a script for an episode of the ABC series UPTOPIA.
                           -    To illustrate my point about "Partners", over several years I have communicated with the Maritime Safety Board at Mooloolaba expressing my on-going
                                public safety concerns, together with details of many instances of serious occurrences that had potentially fatal or serious consequences. All these
                                communications are available for review by any interested parties.
                           -    The Board has constantly refuted that there were any safety issues and refused my offer to come to my premises and observe what I am seeing on any
                                good boating weather day. The Boards last response was to state they wouldn't communicate with me any further on public safety issues, an unbelievable
                                appalling response from a Government Authority specifically responsible for safety.
                           -    I mention the above to emphasise the point that unless the Council and residents are very forceful and persistent the "Partners" are unlikely to be helpful in
                                initiating or managing the required changes despite the obvious staring them in the face.
                           -    If required I am readily available to discuss the above issues in any meeting or forum.

Noosaville Business   Speed Limits
Association, Noosa    The report rightly notes that speed limits are an issue however fails to identify the full range of issues or properly scope any future assessment which should account
Commercial            for
Boatman’s                  -   Impact of vessel wash (boat and jetski) on other boats, jetties, ramps and pontoon (not just swimmers).
Association                -   Suitability of the current area of the speed restricted zone (e.g. should the area be amended?).
                           -   Should there be year round speed limit changes in some areas.
                           -   Adequacy of signage.
                           -   Lack of enforcements of speed limits in the restricted zone and upriver of the restricted zone particularly in the highly used zone between Noosaville and
                               Tewantin.
                           -   Lack of any enforcement after hours.
                           -   Emergent issues such as flight boards not being governed by marine speed limits.
                           -   Actions required by Council
                           -   Undertake a comprehensive review of speed limits and speed restricted zones with in-depth consultation with industry and community.
                           -   Increase speed monitoring and enforcement particularly in areas other than Munna Point and outside daylight hours.

Noosaville Business   Safety
Association, Noosa         -    Our Association considers the risks associated with people (usually teenagers) jumping into the river from the Munna Point and Sofitel Bridges to be a
Commercial                      significant risk which is ignored in the report. Our members cite instances where
Boatman’s                  -    Jumpers land very close to the moving vessels (“playing chicken” and/or being unaware of the oncoming vessel).
Association                -    This puts the swimmer in dangerous proximity to a moving vessel and puts the boat’s operator in breach of marine regulations to keep a minimum safe
                                distance from swimmers.
                           -    Complaints to Council have been told to call the police. When they call the police, they are advised to call the Council. Neither agency takes any action.
                           -    There is a similar issue with teenagers camping on tinnies under the Munna Point bridge.
                           -    This is a dangerous and inappropriate practice which is not addressed as there is no after hour enforcement.
                           -    Actions required by Council
                           -    Acknowledge these significant risks and propose enforcement strategies that will actively mitigate them.

Private               Want to draw to the council’s attention as part of their waterways management plan the existence of Usafe. https://usafe-global.com/
                          -    This is an emergency response device designed to respond immediately should a resident or visitor start drowning on the Noosa waterways.
                          -    It is being adopted by emergency services and municipalities with waterways risk as an important solution for ensuring residents safety on a global scale.
                          -    The device was invented in Portugal and further refined with the assistance of 2 Australians.
                          -    It was awarded the DAME award at METS, (the largest marine trade show in the world) as the best new product. And already there are 14 Chinese copies
                               of our product on the market - in breach of our global patent.
                          -    I mention all this to highlight that our product is becoming viewed as an essential life saving device for waterways and that you may want to consider it as
                               part of your planning.
                          -    Surf Lifesaving Australia and the Australian Navy are already incorporating our device into their future planning.
                          -    I am based on the Sunshine Coast and am able to demonstrate the device if you require.

Private               I believe we need someone like the water police in Noosa.

Private               Please be more active with illegal camping along the river,
                          -    there are campers every night along the river on Hilton Esplanade
                          -    no toilet facilities along there and certainly don’t want them as will bring more campers
                          -    desperately needs to be better policed
                          -    maybe more signs with a stronger message would help.

Private               Upstream of Munna Point is becoming more heavily trafficked.
                          -   Many users obviously not aware of their responsibilities.
                          -   Kayakers, canoeists, rowers, stand up paddlers and swimmers are frequently subjected to threatening wash.
                          -   Notices at launching places, formal and informal, and at boat hire locations detailing jet ski use, which side of river to travel on, wash, speed and distance
                              from other craft, swimmers and jetties, moored boats etc., fish habitats.
                          -   In narrower parts of the river, e.g. Tewantin, channel markers 30+ m from shore indicating channel speed limit and 6 knot speed limit inshore.
                          -   Declare all river banks sea grass and fish habitat to help combat erosion and possibly enable sea grass to regrow.

Private               In my view the Plan is deficient in that there appears to be
                          -     No relationship to Council's zero emissions by 2026 initiative.
                          -     Nor is there a recognition that any increase in the numbers of boats on the river must surely reach a point where river health is compromised to an
                                unacceptable degree.
                          -     The Noosa River is already one of the most trafficked in Queensland.
                          -     I would expect the Plan to take this into account and look at some sort of cap on usage before the waterway is clogged much as some of the roads in the
                                Shire are clogged.
                          -     Further, there should be long term planning to gradually phase out vessels which contribute to carbon emissions in favour of those with electric motors, and
                                encouragement of non-motorised vessels and activities, such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats (time for oars to make a comeback), surf skis, sail boats and
                                stand up paddling boards.

                      Marine Zone and Jet Skis

Private               Compliance with the Noosa River Marine Zone rules and objectives should be a high priority.

Private               I would also favour a complete and immediate ban on jet skis.
                           -    They launch from the river to access Laguna Bay


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