2022-03-08 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       8 MARCH 2022


-     Provided a watching brief on algae management in the Noosa River, and its potential
      impacts on Main Beach.
-     Provided views of Council on reactive items such as dredging proposals and additional
      ferry route.
Resourcing
Since the formation of the committee the following significant resourcing issues have been
experienced:
-     Departure of the original co-chairs being the MSQ General Manager and the Noosa
      Council CEO as well as the Noosa Council Environmental Services Manager.
-     The vacancy of the Principal Environment Officer River Strategy and Engagement since
      October 2021 (the role has been acting Environment Services Manager).
With the commencement of both the new General Manager MSQ and the new Noosa Council
CEO on the 22 February 2022, and the recruitment of a new full time Principal Environment
Officer – River Strategy and Engagement, commencing on the 15 March, it is anticipated that
river management matters will be better progressed in 2022.
Status of MSQ Speed and Safety Review
MSQ have commenced consultation on a permanent reduction in river speed in the lower
reaches of the Noosa River. The proposal is included in Attachment 1. The proposal has drawn
widespread public interest. It is worthwhile noting that this is the first initiative seeking to improve
river management since endorsement of the Noosa River Marine Zone in 2009, which governed
use of jetskis and waterskiing in the Noosa River.
Status of Anchoring, Mooring and Liveaboards
As outlined in the report to Council at the Planning and Environment Committee meeting dated
10 August 2021, NRSAC had provided a suite of recommendations to MSQ concerning better
regulations of Anchoring Mooring and Liveaboards on the Noosa River. As recently as
December, MSQ had advised that they were considering amendment to its regulations to provide
a specific management solution to the Noosa River, and were in the process of briefing their
Director General and Minister about scope of regulatory reform.
In recent email correspondence, MSQ have advised that they are now pursuing a long term
holistic approach to a range of waterways management, as in its role as regulator for the state, it
is reluctant to apply measures that may move issues in the Noosa River to neighbouring areas in
Sunshine Coast waterways. MSQ do note that they are still considering interim options through
better use of existing regulations and mechanisms.
Committee members are keenly anticipating a further update by MSQ at the NRSAC meeting
scheduled for 9 March 2022.
NRSAC ACTIVITIES IN 2022
Items that are of critical importance in the coming year for the Noosa River include:
-     Onboarding the new CEO of Noosa Council and General Manager of MSQ and their active
      participation ongoing community governance model for the Noosa River which is unique in
      Queensland.
-     Being an active participant in the consultation process of the MSQ speed review currently
      underway.
-     Following up on recommendation and solutions to anchoring, mooring and liveaboards in
      the Noosa River with MSQ including development of a gantt chart to plot associated
      activities.
-     Being a key stakeholder in water planning processes underway in the Noosa River through
      the Noosa River Waterway Planning Round Table, in particular the preparation of the

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