2017-07-11 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Draft Sport & Active Recreation Plan

     Beach and Waterways
Beaches, rivers, coastal waters and water reservoirs are major contributors to the sport and
active recreation network. “Swimming at a beach or natural waterway” ranked as the highest
physical activity pursuit for respondents of Noosa’s Physical Activity Participation Survey.

Noosa’s extensive coastline spans from Teewah, Noosa North Shore, Noosa Spit, Main
Beach through to the open beaches of Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Castaways Beach,
Marcus Beach and Peregian Beach The Noosa River, Lake Weyba, Lake Cootharaba, Lake
Cooroibah and Lake MacDonald all provide venues for water-based sport and active
recreation pursuits for locals and visitors. The state government through Maritime Safety Qld
and Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) have responsibility for
management of on-water activities (ie boating and commercial jetties) while council has
responsibility for the foreshore and other land areas not in private ownership (eg erosion
works, foreshore commercial permits). The Noosa River Plan is currently being reviewed and
updated with an expected completion in late 2017. It will identify key pressures on the river
including recreational demand and outline Council’s intention to take on management of some
on-water activities.

Water access and on-land storage are major issues for a number of water sports including
sailing (large and small craft), rowing, kite surfing, canoeing, surfing, dragon boating, kayaking
and outrigger canoeing The Noosaville Foreshore Land Use Master Plan will provide
recommendations for the foreshore of Gympie Tce and is expected to be finalised in late 2017.
Commercial operators provide a significant proportion of non-powered water sports
participation including stand up paddling, surf lessons, kayaking and kite surfing, with
businesses running weekly groups or using SMS messages to encourage participants to get
out on the water in favourable conditions. Commercial and NFP operators require permits or
formal tenure arrangements to conduct these activities on public land. This however, must be
balanced with the expectations of the general public to also freely access these spaces.

Noosa has a long and proud history as a surfing mecca. The topography lends itself to a
series of excellent point breaks and expansive sandy beaches which attract residents and
visitors in significant numbers. In 2016 the Noosa headland and adjacent beaches became a
National Surfing Reserve and it is intended to submit an application to be recognised as a
World Surfing Reserve in late 2017.

The Noosa Shire is home to three surf clubs: Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club; Peregian
Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (under the management of Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club);
and Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Surf clubs provide a vital role in the community
providing surf patrol and rescue services, surf sports competitions and education and
community service. Surf clubs often use local swimming pools for flat water training. Similarly
to other volunteer based sports clubs, surf clubs are experiencing a rise in operational and
equipment costs and an expectation to provide year-round activities (winter lifesaving sports
competitions) with some clubs now patrolling 12 months of the year. The changing nature of
volunteerism is affecting surf clubs with clubs reporting that volunteers are not wanting to
commit to extended periods of time which has forced training and patrol activities to adapt.

     Cycle ways, Pathways and Trails Network
Noosa has an extensive walking and cycle network that caters for a variety of fitness levels
in both the hinterland and coastal regions. Walking, mountain biking, bushwalking and
cycling were four of the top five most popular physical activities for residents according to
the Noosa Physical Activity Participation Survey.
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