2022-11-14 GC Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Draft Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan

equipment, and any surf equipment that could be dangerous or be likely to injure someone is
prohibited, along with the equipment and activities prohibited in the broader bathing reserve below.
Dogs are prohibited in bathing areas.

These bathing areas sit in larger bathing reserves, which allows for equipment and conduct to be
regulated to help provide safer swimming conditions, at a lesser extent than the highly managed
bathing areas. Motorised or wind powered equipment, spear fishing, and surf equipment that may
injure or endanger others is prohibited. The two bathing reserves at Sunshine and Sunrise Beach
are located between beach accesses 29 and 38, and the third is at Peregian Beach between
beach accesses 47 and 59.

There are surf clubs and towers at Sunshine Beach and Peregian Beach, and lifeguards and life
savers regularly patrol some beaches outside of the flagged areas. The surf lifesaving club
buildings and associated beach accesses, towers, accesses, and patrol areas are neighbours to
the EBFR. Council aims to ensure the adjoining foreshore reserves and Surf Life Saving Club
facilities are managed in a way that complement each other.


Surfing
Surfing is one of Noosa’s most notable forms of recreation. The beach break at North Sunshine
Beach is at the southern end of the Noosa World Surfing Reserve, and other well renown surf
breaks are highly popular along the length of the Eastern Beaches. Surfing is a major contributor
to livability and the Noosa “culture” for many residents, and surfing opportunities and events are a
major drawcard for regional, interstate and international visitors.

Surf breaks and access for surfing is one of the drivers for the current location of many of our
beach accesses and should be considered if new or moved beach accesses are proposed.
Viewing water conditions can be a reason for people to go off public paths, which may cause
environmental damage and pose a risk to visitors. Incorporating desired water condition view line
considerations when locating and designing viewing areas, platforms and other coastal community
infrastructure will help maintain and enhance these values.


Beach walking
Beach walking for exercise, meditation and socialising are important daily activities for many
Noosa residents and visitors. People walk regular and occasional routes along beaches and
nearby walkways, and into adjoining national parks.


Dog walking
Many people walk and exercise their dogs on the beach and on nearby walkways. EBFR off leash
areas are at Sunshine Beach, north from beach access 27 to the national park boundary, and
Castaways and Marcus Beach, between beach accesses 38 and 47. Other beach areas are open
to on-leash dogs, except the three designated bathing areas.

Initial consultation highlighted how important being able to walk with your dog on most of the beach
is very important to many people. Some raised concerns about access to some of the off-leash
areas. Others raised issues about pet waste being a significant contributor of urban water nitrogen
and expressed concern about off leash dogs outside of off leash areas for environmental, amenity
and public safety reasons and said that they stayed away from beaches because they were
worried about being knocked down by off leash dogs.

Feedback about dogs and dog related infrastructure stated that better access and signage about
where dogs or off leash dogs are not allowed will both help prevent dog owners being fined and
reduce out of area off leash concerns.

Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan – Draft (V4 26.9.22 – for public consultation)     Page 30