2019-01-14 General Committee Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 2 - Noosa River Partnership Proposal

The Nature Conservancy


   6. Noosa River Plan, 2019
The completion of the Noosa River Plan by Noosa Council in early 2019 will identify
current and future threats and management interventions to abate identified threats within
the Noosa River estuary. The Plan will identify the strategic alignment of oyster reef
restoration to the long-term health and resilience of the Noosa River estuary. TNC
provided comments on the initial draft of the plan.

Noosa Council and The Nature Conservancy in addition to other organizations with an
interest in the River’s sustainability (including Noosa Parks Association, The Thomas
Foundation and Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation), through a series of dialogue and
presentations to Council Executive Committee, have recognized the strategic priorities of
both organizations and of others would be more effectively served through a formal public-
private partnership, rather than on an individual project basis. This agreement has led to
the development of this proposal and rationale for establishing the partnership.


2.2. Partnership scope
The Partnership will initially prioritize the restoration of oyster reefs in the lower estuary (as
described in the section below) and will also include support for other potential activities
including:
   •   Strategic support for planning, management and evaluation associated with the new
       Noosa River Plan;
   •   Coordination of research required to inform the delivery of the Noosa River Plan and
       other initiatives and projects associated with the Noosa River systems; and
   •   Critical evaluation and potential reform of current and future management activities
       (e.g. commercial and recreational fishing, recreation, tourism, wetland restoration,
       sediment and nutrient inflows, community engagement).

Engagement could occur through:

       •   Access to TNC subject matter experts (particularly in conservation planning,
           fisheries, aquaculture, restoration, community engagement) to provide guidance
           and advice to Council environment and river management staff
       •   Assistance with strategic planning, co-creation of management plans and
           activities and evidence-based decision analysis, particularly through the
           development of reports, workshops and mentoring
       •   Site visits and study tours to TNC projects and TNC expertise visiting

The specific terms of reference for the partnership (including deliverables and outcomes)
will be developed between Noosa Council and The Nature Conservancy between January
- June 2019. The terms of reference will form the basis for of a Memorandum of
Understanding and/or Grant Agreement between the two organizations.

To finalize the scope of the partnership, it is proposed to match the needs of Noosa
Council and the management objectives of the Noosa River Plan to The Nature
Conservancy’s global marine and coastal expertise, which includes:

   •   Marine ecosystem restoration
   •   Community conservation planning and engagement
   •   Marine protected area and marine spatial planning design and management
   •   Fisheries management
   Noosa River Partnership                                                                 Page | 6