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

                              -     We believe the community would consider such to be an outrageous proposal and inappropriately different to every other waterway in
                                    Queensland/Australia.
                              -     We oppose Council updating new Guidelines for New Business of the Noosa River without adequate and specific prior consultation with existing
                                    businesses.
                              -     We note the photo on page 7 is several years old and is a poor choice to represent the page’s heading of “a river under pressure” when the
                                    associated text actually complements commercial operators.
                              -     A photo of say a congested boat ramp would be more appropriate to the text of this section.
                              -     We support the development of a river plan that addresses actual priority problems.
                              -     We do not support the many ancillary and unrelated actions proposed in the current draft plan.

Private                       -     Ferry safety / Noise Pollution.
                              -     There is no mention of the River passenger ferry’s abuse of the safety horn/whistle by touting for business like ‘Mister Whippy.’ This abuse is mainly
                                    on weekends and public holidays and coincides with the payment of penalty rates to the ferry drivers, by coincidence.
                              -     Perhaps the driver at these time is more concerned about raising awareness of the ferry service by using the whistle noise to navigate by. “Crying
                                    wolf’ by blasting the warning whistle is a safety hazard as well as noise pollution and this should be policed.
                              -     So far my representations to Council and the State Government have been ignored and even the mayor in his forward to this Plan alludes to the ‘cute’
                                    ferry noise. Perhaps he is not here when hundreds of un-necessary blasts per day echo around the annoyed residents & tourists all in the quest to
                                    make a profit at the expense of our quality of life. This is like Becker’s helicopters that the mayor & residents hated.

Department of                 -     Re objective 5
Environment and Science       -     The Guidelines referred to–
                              -     ‘commercial water-based businesses are required to operate from an approved commercial jetty as the use of private jetties for commercial activity,
                                    or operation of a commercial business from anchor, or an authorised buoy mooring in the river, are not permitted.
                              -     public jetties are not authorised for commercial activity.
                              -     a new business relying on the use of a public jetty will not be approved.’
                              -     Any updating or changes to these specific points in the Guidelines could potentially negatively impact the FHA.
                              -     Therefore, DES would be interested in the outcomes of this review.

                          Fishing

Private                       -     A ban on fishing in the river to allow fish stocks to recover.
                              -     Recreational fishing permits, yes!
                              -     Introduce recreational fishing permits and a ban on fishing for a few months to improve fish stocks.

Private                       -     Ban netting by commercial & recreational fisherman.
                              -     Introduce ‘no take.’
                              -     Promote ethical fishing practices.

Private                       -     Fishing should be permit based only to allow all wildlife to recover.
                              -     Do not allow powered craft to go into mangroves - they are wrecking the fish/crab nurseries

Noosa Nth Shore               -     Spearfishing: In the past, QBFP have issued Infringement to offenders as they were not familiar with the local restrictions.
Residents Association         -     Spearfishing rules in the Noosa River are not widely known.
                              -     Communicating these rules more effectively is needed.
                              -     Fishing Licenses:
                              -     The Qld. Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017-2027, The Dept. of Agriculture Monitoring and Research Plan 2017-2027 quotes the Minister as not
                                    supporting the introduction of a recreational fishing licence yet the Draft Noosa River Plan has an objective of introducing one.
                              -     The NNSA is opposed to the introduction of recreational fishing licenses within the Shire boundary.

Private                       -     Noosa North Shore commercial fishing on the beach North of the river mouth is a potential problem compounded by lack of survey of fish stock
                                    trends.
                              -     There is a danger of depletion and I support reduction in licences by the State Government until the industry can demonstrate sustainability.
                              -     I have suggested in the past to Noosa Councillors to value the licences at 3 to 5 times annual taxable revenue which is market driven from the
                                    fisherman for buy back so catching the dormant licences and any taxpayer abusing the tax system by not reporting all cash income.

Private                       -     In regards to fishing both recreational and commercially of the river.
                              -     I think first and foremost the biggest step forward would be for council and the fisheries to work together and getting state governments to bring in
                                    recreational fishing licences.
                              -     Unfortunately due to the low budget that our fisheries officers abide by they simply cannot be on the water as much as they should be to enforce the
                                    state fisheries laws, in particular removal of under and oversized fish from the river.
                              -     People taking fish illegally from our river is without doubt the biggest problem affecting our fish stocks throughout the holiday periods.
                              -     I believe if this can be implemented it would make a significant difference in their ability to be able to uphold the laws they are trying to protect.

Private                       -     Stop commercial fishing in Lake Cootharaba & Cooroibah.

Private                       -     Exaggeration of Commercial Fishing.
                              -     Commercial fishing in the actual river is minor & as far as I know restricted to a few bait prawners.
                              -     Even this use is inconsistent with the Council’s desire to build fish stocks by increasing prawn stocks.
                              -     Competing goals to facilitate commercial prawning and at the same time save the prawns to breed more fish?
                              -     Beach Commercial Fishing.
                              -     I suspect recreational fishing contributes more to the Noosa economy than mullet fishing off NNS beach.
                              -     Where are the statistics?

Department of                 -     Re objective 6
Environment and Science       -     Council reiterates support for the FHA as being vital to commercial and recreational fisheries of the region.




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