2018-03-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     6 MARCH 2018


REPORT
Community land is predominantly State land where Council is trustee. It belongs to the whole
community and is generally freely accessible. The main purpose of community land is to enhance
wellbeing and liveability by providing space for recreational and social activities and essential
infrastructure.
Noosa Main Beach is arguably the most popular recreation space in the Noosa Shire. With its
superb view of Laguna Bay framed by Noosa National Park, and its proximity to the Hastings Street
shopping and dining precinct, the beach enjoys iconic status. Noosa Main Beach is generally a
safe, sheltered family beach protected from prevailing south-easterly winds. The beach features
heavily on promotional material for Noosa as a holiday destination.
Given its popularity and northerly aspect, Noosa Main Beach has for many years, been an ideal
location for beach and surf related activities, including surf lifesaving carnivals, surfing and open
water swimming events. However, over the last 10-15 years the number, scale and frequency of
events on Noosa Main Beach has increased largely because:
1.    Growing event tourism was part of a deliberate strategy promoted by tourism and business
      sectors and supported by Council to stimulate the Noosa economy as it historically suffered
      a downturn outside the main holiday periods; and
2.    From the perspective of event organisers, the attractiveness of an event on Noosa Main
      Beach is unparalleled with spectacular views of Laguna Bay combined with the beach's
      iconic status. These factors provide significant value-adding to events which has become
      increasingly evident in recent years with more event organisers seeking to add a beach
      component to their event.
Over recent years, due to comparatively long periods of stable weather, Noosa Main Beach has
provided the ideal location for the staging of events, with severe weather incidences and erosion
not affecting Noosa Main Beach or events in any significant way. However, it is likely that Noosa
Main Beach in the future will be affected by severe weather events and large swells generated by
weather systems. These systems can abruptly remove sand from the beach altering the beach’s
profile. Significant erosion is an issue particularly for events requiring major static infrastructure
because of the potential impact on event footprints, operations and patronage. Although a sand
pumping facility is located at Noosa Spit this is a remedial operation which cannot replenish sand
rapidly. Similarly, ocean conditions are variable depending on the weather, wind direction and
uncontrollable marine phenomena such as algae, seaweed and jellyfish.
While there are no direct means of measuring the value to the local economy of events, there is
anecdotal evidence they provide a boost to the local economy and jobs for local residents.
However, recent media commentary asking “how much is enough?” raised concerns with the
impact of events on Noosa Main Beach, including:
    Equitable community access;
    Diminishing amenity;
    Traffic congestion;
    Road and carpark closures;
    Infrastructure set up and removal periods (in addition to the event period) required for each
      event; and
    Visitors seeking a tranquil holiday experience in a destination that Tourism Noosa markets
      as "the relaxation capital of Australia".
While opinions vary regarding event impacts, there is widespread agreement from all stakeholders
including the community and business/tourism sectors that a considered approach to events on
Noosa Main Beach is necessary to retain Noosa’s attributes, maintain our lifestyle, protect the
environment and support a strong tourism product.




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