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

          -   It doesn’t take Einstein to work the maths out!
          -   The 2 green buoys indicating the channel that runs along Munna Point are only 40 metres off the jetties, boat ramps and the beach at the caravan
              park.
          -   Within this area of the Noosa River on any day there are people swimming out to the sand banks
          -   particularly off the caravan beach
          -   people on paddle boards, canoes, small sailing boats, large sailing cats
          -   jet skis and rental and owned motor boats
          -   including large commercial tourist fishing boats and ferries.
          -   It is pretty obvious that a 6-knot speed limit needs to be imposed permanently and immediately in this area of the Noosa River
          -   Between T Boats and the end of Munna Point.
          -   Excessive erosion and damage to the shoreline, caravan park foreshore and jetties in this area of the Noosa River has also been excessive as boats
              travelling over 6 knots in a channel like at Munna Point create wash.
          -   A permanent 6 knot maximum speed will minimise wash and therefore minimize foreshore erosion.

Private   -   Reduce the speed limit for all powered craft to 6 knots from Tewantin to the river mouth all year round.
          -   There should be no need for 20 knots anywhere on this river unless lives are at stake.

Private   -   I wish to make a submission as to the Public Safety and Speed Limits in the lower reaches of the River between TBOATS and the RIVER MOUTH.
          -   As a resident living at the Las Rias complex
          -   I have observed river activity constantly from close quarters for the past 2.5 years
          -   And are amazed that such a chaotic and dangerous situation could be allowed to exist.
          -   In my first year of residency at Las Rias and observing many incidents, accidents and near misses I decided to become involved in bringing the
              situation to the attention of the authority responsible for public safety.
          -   An initial problem was that the responsible authority is not readily known or publicised, this is the primary reason that incidents are not reported
              especially as most involve tourists or visitors.
          -   It was eventually established that the responsible authority was the Maritime Safety board in Mooloolaba and I have brought the issues to their
              attention for 18 months and continue to do so without any success.
          -   Attach copies of the latest exchange of correspondence for your information, so you can appreciate the difficulties I have experienced with this
              Authority.
          -   If any reasonable person read my correspondence file they would have to question the competence of the Authority and I am sure they would be
              appalled at some of the statements they have made relating to public safety issues.
          -   I outline my experiences with this Authority to Council as it references them in resolving some of the issues that will be involved in the proposed plan.
          -   Council should understand who they are dealing with and be prepared to deal with an Authority that is either incompetent, or very lazy and perhaps
              both.
          -   Council Officers involved should read my whole correspondence file with the Board, so they appreciate and understand who and what they will be
              dealing with.
          -   CURRENT PROBLEMS
          -   An inappropriate speed limit that dates to 2004 and is fundamentally outdated 14 years later due to population growth.
          -   At Public Meetings around 2002 the overwhelming community support was for a permanent 6 knot speed limit, but this was strongly opposed by a
              small but well organised fishing Lobby Group and the current Xmas-Easter restrictions were the compromised outcome.
          -   I believe current traffic in all School Holiday times, long weekends or on any good weather weekend is at or exceeds the 2004 holiday levels.
          -   Pressure group lobbying shouldn’t be allowed to prevail again as Public Safety is more important than 10 minutes extra fishing time.
          -   Significant increase in use from additional river craft e.g. Jet Skis, SUPs and Paddle Craft of numerous types.
          -   Effects of NATURE. At times the Channel narrows up and increases congestion to a point that if a strict interpretation of Maritime Rules were applied
              as to distances and speed, river traffic would virtually stop.
          -   Unless it is proposed to manage this problem on a regular basis the only option is to plan for the worst situation with a low speed level may be even 4
              knots.
          -   A further complication of channel narrowing is that it brings the adjoining northern sand banks into play and significantly increases cross channel
              activity from the resorts that include swimmers and many youngsters on a variety of watercraft.
          -   SECONDARY PROBLEM – POLICING AND REGULATION.
          -   Excessive speeding over a few busy weekends
          -   I have taken 3-hour surveys of passing traffic (excluding hire boats) and the results show about 40 percent of all passing motorised craft exceed the
              20-knot limit with significant numbers including many who should know better, exceeding the limit substantially (if on the roads they would lose their
              licence).
          -   HOON BEHAVIOUR
          -   Over the past 12 months this has become more prevalent mainly involving youths in tinnies and to a lesser degree a small number of jet skiers.
          -   Much of their actions are not only a danger to themselves but to the public also.
          -   What the above confirms is a lack of POLICING PRESENCE on the river and it is in fact VIRTUALLY UNREGULATED.
          -   I note from an article in the local paper there is only 2 police patrol craft that cover the area Redcliffe to Tin Can Bay. This confirms my observations.
          -   I would venture to say that over the past 2 years there wouldn’t have been a Speeding or Hooning ticket issue in the part of the river under
              discussion.
          -   It would be interesting to view official data on these issues if Council has the capacity to obtain them as I have had great difficulty.
          -   The point is that if you are going to have an unregulated situation you always impose the LOWEST LIMITS as most people will observe limits (in this
              case about 60 percent refer to above) and many will fear the consequences if by some chance they get caught significantly exceeding the limit e.g.
              doing 35 knots in a 6-knot area is a lot more serious than doing it in a 20 knot area.
          -   While a low limit will never replace proper policing, it will slow most excessive speedsters down and dramatically improve overall public safety.
          -   In Summary I cannot see one valid reason not to immediately change the speed limit to 6 knots in the urgent interests of Public Safety.
          -   As offered to the Maritime Safety Board Officers they were invited to come and sit with me and observe what I see on any fine weekend. The same
              offer is made to Council Officers involved in this matter.

Private   -   Erosion … speed limits should apply for the whole river up to Lake Cootharaba
          -   No water ski
          -   Stop discovery tours from wrecking the river by going up and down and allow them a jetty at Elanda Point so they can start the tours from there.

Private   -   SEPARATING AND SLOWING RIVER USERS FOR SAFETY
          -   Just as separating cyclists from motor vehicles provides safer land transport, separating the different river users improves safety too.
          -   It is inappropriate for vessels to moor or anchor or trawl in designated navigation channels.
          -   Swimmers would be safer away from fishers casting out, ferries travelling their routes and recreational boats.
          -   Jet skis should be confined to the designated Jet ski area, other than transiting to their jetty or boat ramp.
          -   Slowing down for safety would help immeasurably.
          -   There are many sections of the river where 20 knots is the permissible speed, but they are heavily used sections of the river including swimmers and
              paddle craft and rental boats, often in the control of drivers without maritime licences.
          -   Perhaps a 6 knot speed limit for all of the lower Noosa River, excepting the ski zones, is necessary.
          -   POLICING
          -   It is a travesty that speed limits, safety equipment on board, alcohol limits, fishing bag limits and fish sizes caught etc. are not enforced on the river.
          -   The river has a reputation as being extremely under patrolled and thus there is a culture of non-compliance.
          -   You will be sadly astonished if you simply watch and see how many people on boats do not wear life jackets when crossing the bar, and how many
              boats travel and over 6 knots thus creating wash which disturbs other anchored boats and causes wash erosion to river banks.




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