2021-03-09 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     9 MARCH 2021


5     NOOSA TRAIL MASTERPLAN

Author            Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne
                  Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index             ECM/Heritage Trails/Noosa Trail Network

Attachments       1.    Noosa Trail Masterplan (54 page attachment provided separately to this
                        agenda)
                  2.    Noosa Trail Masterplan Stakeholder Group Draft Terms of Reference
                  3.    Noosa Trail Network Brochure (attachment provided separately to this
                        agenda)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 9 March 2021 and
A.    Note the update on the development of the Noosa Trail Masterplan, the establishment of the
      Noosa Trail Masterplan Stakeholder Reference Group and the grant funded Trail 5 Upgrade
      project; and
B.    Adopt the Noosa Trail Masterplan for the purposes of enabling further detailed planning to
      be undertaken.

REPORT
The Noosa Biosphere® Reserve Foundation (NBRF) provided funding for Tourism Noosa to
develop a Noosa Trail Masterplan in 2019. Tourism Noosa engaged consultants to develop the
Masterplan in consultation with community interest groups and the Plan was finalised in early 2020
(see Attachment 1). The purpose of this report is to inform Council of the recommendations
identified in the Masterplan and provide an update on the progress of its implementation.
1.    Noosa Trail Masterplan recommendations
The current Noosa Trail Network is located largely in the hinterland on Council road reserve, but
also on National Park and State Forest and some small sections on private land with permission
from the landowners (see Map 1 below). The trail is used by residents and visitors, providing
opportunities for horse riding, mountain biking, running, walking and in some areas canoeing.
Annual events such as the Great Noosa Trail Walk are very popular.
Consultants assessed the Noosa Trail Network, and advise that in its current form and condition
the trail did not meet the standard expected by today’s trail user markets and failed to sufficiently
capitalise on Noosa’s high quality and unique environs (page 40 of the Masterplan).




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