2016-02-02 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                         2 FEBRUARY 2016


In addition, many rural landholders who have land under production have also registered
their properties as LFW. Some of these landholders have taken land conservation one step
further and have applied a VCA to their land title. In most instances the LFW Program is the
catalyst for the adoption of VCAs.

Within the Noosa Shire there are over 300 rural properties registered as LFW and 20 rural
properties with a VCA. Currently the Council resources dedicated to LFW are minimal whilst
the VCAs (which incorporate a rebate to landholders) are funded via the Environment Levy.

Sustainable agriculture, conservation land management and water quality protection are not
mutually exclusive environmental outcomes.

Boosting support for the not-for-profit groups, as well as the LFW Program would help to
consolidate the extension work undertaken by these groups and could potentially be a
strategic investment in sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation and water
quality protectionthe protection of the EVs of natural waters throughout the Shire.

Healthy Waterways recently announced their intention to create a new entity with SEQ
Catchments which may also help deliver improved strategic on ground outcomes in rural
areas in partnership with Council and these not-for-profit community groups.

4.   Modelling to inform waterways management

Noosa River Flood Study

Council has commissioned an upgrade and extension of the existing flood study of the
Noosa River incorporating predictive flood height, velocity and erosion forecasts.

The existing study was completed in 1995 and utilises a combination of RAFTS hydrological
modelling and MIKE11 hydraulic modelling.

The upgraded flood study will provide Council with a confident basis for ongoing planning
and decision making regarding land use planning, development assessment, disaster
management and waterway management.

The specific project objectives for the upgrade include:
   developing an improved understanding of anticipated areas of inundation for existing
     and future climate scenarios;
   developing an understanding of anticipated channel shifts and sand erosion/deposition
     for potential dredging, maintenance and construction activities; and
   developing an understanding of flood flow velocity distributions within the waterway
     and throughout the adjacent floodplains.
Council is expecting the updated flood model to incorporate best practice methods, the latest
modelling techniques and be prepared with accepted industry software applications that
reflect the nature of the catchment and river system and have a broad industry user base.

The ability for Noosa Council to administer the associated models beyond the completion of
the flood study upgrade is also an expected outcome.

Through upgrading the Noosa River Flood Study, Council is seeking to apply the findings of
the upgraded hydraulic model to investigate management strategies for shoreline erosion in
the lower river estuary.



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