3. Noosa Project Restoration Plan V12

6.3 Impact Minimisation

All works undertaken will minimise disturbance to marine plants during and after the construction
phase. Any impact to marine plants will be temporary. Any use of temporary equipment, such as
sediment curtains, will be placed to avoid contact with marine plants or the impediment of fish passage.

Table 6.1 presents an assessment of the actions, impact minimisation actions and alternatives
considered.

Table 6.1: Impact minimisation actions and alternatives considered

 Action           Impact minimisation (environmental +           Alternatives considered
                  social)
 Site selection   Site selection guided by Restoration Zones     Areas unsuitable or inappropriate for
                  and Restoration Suitability Modelling and      oyster restoration are excluded by the
                  extensive associated use of minimum            selection and consultation processes.
                  distances to minimise negative impact of
                  construction or restoration substrates,
                  once established, on marine species and
                  habitats, navigation, built infrastructure
                  and river access.

                  Extensive liaison and formal consultation
                  processes are used to ensure planned
                  actions meet with community
                  expectations.
 Restoration      Only locally occurring igneous or              Rock oysters are opportunists and will
 materials        metaphoric rock is selected as the primary     grow on rock, rubble, mangrove roots,
 selection        restoration material, as per the design        oyster shell (etc) and artificial
                  specifications. This material optimises        substrates such as tin, concrete, steel.
                  ecological and physical performance,           The project objective is to restore
                  while minimising risk of introducing           oyster ecosystems by providing an
                  foreign materials and pathogens to the         ecologically (and engineered) design
                  river.                                         which mimics natural foundations of
                                                                 oyster ecosystems. The project
                  To minimise contamination, the rock may        therefore employs locally occurring
                  be treated prior to deployment by              natural materials.
                  cleaning with freshwater, if contamination
                  (most likely lose soil) exceeds 50 percent     Oyster shell piled on the riverbed or
                  coverage of each rock per given volume.        placed in bags or cages placed on the
                                                                 riverbed are, by design, artificial
                  Oyster shell and oyster shell cultch will be   structures, thus introducing artificial
                  treated as per the QLD End of Waste –          materials and shapes to the estuary.
                  Shell Code, and pre-washed prior to use.       Such materials and shapes may select
                                                                 for certain species mixes or
                  Live oysters will be handled and deployed      abundances, which may not naturally
                  as per conditions of a General Fisheries       occur in the estuary. The bag material
                  Permit secured for that activity.              may exacerbate sedimentation and
                                                                 achieving relief to counter
                                                                 sedimentation challenges is difficult

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