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

                              -    The last new moon and large tides we had in mid-July flushed all the silt and tannin from up the river and out to sea.
                              -    Normally with a reasonable channel the river cleans itself rather quickly and the cleaner water comes in as the tide floods and is cleared usually within
                                   a few days.
                              -    The last moon phase we saw this dirtier water not funnelling out of the river as it naturally should purely because it is too shallow for the body of water
                                   trying to move out.
                              -    If we were to have a deeper ocean entrance all year around, the river would be able to clean itself a lot quicker, and fish and bait numbers in the river
                                   would dramatically increase.
                              -    I propose the council extends the rock wall on the southern side of the bar and builds an additional wall on the northern side, dredge a channel, and
                                   have a larger deep area for fish and bait species to enter our river.
                              -    Implementing something like this would also make it a lot safer for all people travelling through this area each day on vessels.
                              -    I can understand the massive amount of money that would be needed to fund something like this but I think that one project would have a huge
                                   positive impact with our local community and our fish species and numbers.
                              -    Thank you for taking the time to read this email, I hope my views and opinions can be taken constructively and we can come together with a good
                                   solution for everyone in the community.

Private                       -    The paper ignores the fact that the lower reaches of the river have been significantly altered and groomed, and this presents ongoing problems that
                                   can and will be costly to deal with.
                              -    The issues are not just to do with erosion from vessels as the paper suggests.

Private                       -    There is a need to examine why the lower Noosa River is where it is geographically and what purpose it has for the whole catchment area before
                                   considering how we can further change its use.
                              -    I believe the river is the natural drain for the catchment area and any attempt to impede this rain is likely to have consequences.
                              -    At the start of the Cyclone season one of the warnings promulgated is ' make sure your gutters and drains are cleared out'.
                              -    The mouth of the Noosa River is the drain of the catchment and any impediment to the freedom of the water to escape could cause flooding.
                              -    The river mouth has been severely restricted in the past by "development". The river mouth has been moved and restricted to its present position.
                              -    The Noosa Sound sandbank has been developed for housing.
                              -    The Noosa Woods area has been developed and stabilised to protect the Sound.
                              -    The sand pumping on the main beach ensures there is sand ready to be swept into the river mouth.
                              -    This sand should be allowed to progress North towards Fraser Island for most of the time.
                              -    All of these events, plus the increase in moorings and jetties which slow down the river flow, help to make the build-up of sandbanks inevitable.
                              -    Since 1992 the sandbanks between Edward St and the mouth of the river have increased greatly
                              -    This presents a large shallow sand area where it is safe for families, including young children, to play.
                              -    But if we had another rain storm in the catchment, similar to the early 1992 rains, these same sandbanks would act as a dam and the lower
                                   catchment could not escape flooding, and most of Noosaville and Hastings St could be severely flooded.
                              -    As one indicator the boats from the sailing club used to have regular races outside the bar in the winter and normally race up to Weyba Rd.
                              -    Now they are restricted to about Thomas St. as there is insufficient draft across the river even for these relatively light boats to sail towards the river
                                   mouth.
                              -    Any idea of ocean boats using Noosa River as a haven is unthinkable.
                              -    In summary NOOSA Town has done incredible damage to the mouth of the Noosa River in the past - we must now try and repair the River's path
                                   before it comes back and hurts us.
                              -    I believe first 'A STUDY TO DETERMINE HOW THE NATURAL FLOWS IN THE NOOSA RIVER CAN BE RESTORED' needs to be carried out,
                                   before any thought to changing the present bad practices are considered and further damage is done.

                          Marine infrastructure

Private                       -    No more boat ramps: reduce traffic in the river.
                              -    Have a booking system for use of existing ramps with toll for use. Like parking: tickets to use the ramps.
                              -    No ramp booking ticket, no ramp use.
                              -    Fines imposed for no ticket, checked in by rego of the boat trailer.

Private                       -    Action 11 to mention removal of illegal jetties (as well as boats).
                              -    Also, mention somewhere of completing key linkages in riverside walkways with floating walkways between Munna Point and eastern end of Gympie
                                   Tce; and between eastern end of Hilton Tce and Chaplin Park.

Private                       -    As for derelict boats, derelict jetties in the Noosa River System need to be managed.

Private                       -    Why doesn’t Council demand the removal of all the illegal structures being built into the Frying Pan from North Shore residents.
                              -    There are dozens of small jetties being built without approval. It looks like a shanty town.

Private                       -    Do not support the Elanda Point Jetty as it is a poor outcome environmental, socially and aesthetically.

Private                       -    RIVER ACCESS
                              -    The boat jetty, boat car and trailer parking and ramps on Gympie Terrace and at Tewantin are of such dreadful design that they can only be used by
                                   smaller boats, even though the ramp at Gympie Terrace is signed as up to 5 tonne usage.
                              -    It is impossible to get a 15m rig (8m boat, trailer with adequate draw bar, toyota cruiser haul vehicle) in and out of the short herring bone shaped car
                                   park, particularly if vehicles are in the rigging area in front of the parking bays.
                              -    That vehicles park there, are locked and left unattended in the rigging bay causes the area to grid lock.
                              -    Last time we wanted to bring our boat back in to that jetty we had to stand off for just under three hours, waiting for vehicles to move in the car park
                                   so that we could actually get our trailer out of the designated parking bay area, swing it around and drive it to the ramp area.
                              -    At this stage the tide was dropping away and the cement ramp was too short to back the trailer down enough for the boat to easily glide onto the
                                   trailer.
                              -    I do not understand why the boat ramp is so short, the parking bays so short, the turning area to get back to the ramp is so angled and narrow and yet
                                   the area is apparently designed for boats that are large enough to need a jetty to tie to while the trailer is retrieved and reversed into position.
                              -    The boat ramp beside the ferry to North Shore is simply sand.
                              -    Many a time I have seen 4wd vehicles bog there trying to haul boats out, and thus have to arrange a tow from a second 4wd to vacate the boat
                                   launching area.
                              -    This is not ideal and neither does it promote efficient use of the facilities.
                              -    Surely there must be standards regarding the design of boat ramps and associated infrastructure.
                              -    The facilities at Manly in Brisbane are an example that work well.
                              -    Given that boating licence fees are paid to cover such infrastructure, it is only reasonable that it is appropriate for the paying users.
                              -    JETTIES AND BOAT HULKS
                              -    Travelling the tidal areas of Noosa River has revealed hundreds of private jetties, many of which are in disrepair or have already disintegrated leaving
                                   a trail of polystyrene and CCA treated timbers washed through the mangroves and along the river banks.
                              -    Disintegrating boat hulks also contaminate the river with their treated timbers, plastics, petrochemicals, etc.
                              -    These are such disastrous pollutants to riverine life.
                              -    The visual amenity of the river and its safe use for recreation and navigation are important but protection of the river biosphere is even more
                                   important.

Lake Cootharaba Sailing       -    Parking for public boat ramps is not beyond capacity.
Club

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