2021-01-18 GC - Item 2 - Attachment 2 - Consultation Report River Plan Version 1 (2018)

                                                                                                                   General Committee Agenda
                                                                                                                               18 January 2021
                                                                       Attachment 2 to Item 2 – Consultation Report River Plan Version 1 (2018)

                                                       Feedback on Draft Noosa River Plan version 1


The information below provides a collation of detailed feedback on the Draft Noosa River Plan received from the community during the public
consultation period from 20 July to 26 August 2018.
This feedback consists of responses to the Noosa River Plan SURVEY published on Council’s Your Say Noosa (YSN) website, and written
submissions received from individuals and organisations.
Three questions were posed in the SURVEY:
   1. What do you think will be most important in maintaining and improving the quality of the Noosa River system?
   2. Are there any actions to consider for inclusion in the Draft Noosa River Plan?
   3. The cost of implementing the actions recommended in the Draft Noosa River Plan is estimated to be $2.23M over 5 years (i.e. $446,000
      pa).
      Are you willing to pay extra (via General Rates or Environment Levy and/or Tourism and Economic Levy) for Noosa Council to fully
      implement the River Plan so that the Noosa River has a better chance of remaining a pristine and vital community asset?
      If yes, how much per year ($5, $10, $15, $20)?

Summary of feedback
The top four (4) priorities deemed most important to maintain and improve the quality of the Noosa River system were identified as:

   •   managing pollution and litter running into the river
   •   protecting wetlands, riparian and coastal areas
   •   reducing sediment from upstream entering the river
   •   controlling recreational use of the river
   •   Refer page 2
Actions and comments to consider for inclusion in the Draft River Plan relate to management of:

   •   river health and pollution sources, relevant new initiatives and community education
   •   habitat restoration, weeds and spraying, protecting biodiversity
   •   indigenous cultural heritage and engagement with Kabi Kabi TOs
   •   coastal algal blooms
   •   Refer pages 2 to 4

   •   recreational boating
   •   anchoring, mooring and living on the river
   •   speed limits in lower estuary
   •   Refer pages 4 to 12

   •   dredging and navigation
   •   marine infrastructure
   •   commercial use
   •   fishing
   •   Refer pages 12 to 17
Willingness to pay extra for implementation of the Draft River Plan identified:

   •   38 x positive responses (some with caveats)
   •   31 x negative responses
   •   7 x other responses (relating to other funding mechanisms)
   •   Refer pages 18 to 19
Further comments relating to Draft River Plan document (i.e. approach, structure and content)

   •   Refer pages 20 to 22