2016-01-11 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 11 JANUARY 2016


 Abandoned or derelict vessels;
 Pollution and clutter in the river – particularly in the lower estuary which is the busiest section
   of the river;
 Changes to lease conditions and potential intensification of uses;
 Commercial activities occurring outside the jetty lease areas, such as public foreshores and
   public boat ramps which also raise issues of concern given the area’s high usage.

All these on-river activities are currently under State Government control with several key pieces
of legislation providing the head of power to the Departments of Transport and Main Roads
(through Maritime Safety Queensland), and foreshore activities (i.e. leases) to the Department of
Natural Resources and Mines. Compliance with these laws and regulations is managed via a
system of complaint and information referrals to other State agencies. These agencies include the
Boat Harbours Team, Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, and the Queensland Police
Service. This is a complex and often confusing arrangement for the community and a state-wide
management approach may not be the best option to address local issues and ensure the Noosa
River is protected for future generations.

Establishment of a Community Jury

A second Community Jury was established by Council in August 2015 and asked to examine the
question. The Jury commenced its deliberations on 22 August 2015 and met monthly. At the
outset an information pack was provided to the Jury and a presentation provided by officers on
current issues around the Noosa River, current legislation provisions, and potential management
options for the Noosa River. The Jury was advised that the following matters were in scope:

    Anchoring, mooring and living on board watercraft in the Noosa River.
    Commercial use of the river and commercial Jetty leases occupying the Noosa River
      foreshore.

A number of matters were also identified as being out of scope of the topic, including commercial
and recreational fishing, riverbank erosion and riverbank restoration since these matters were
being separately reviewed by State Government and Council.

A report and a series of recommendations were finalised by the Jury on 11 December 2015 with a
further explanatory document provided by Jury members on 18 December 2015. The majority of
the Jury considered that Council should take over the authority and finances from the State
Government for managing the moorings, anchoring, living on board and commercial use of the
river on the basis it would be a user pays system funded through alternative means to rates. The
Jury did not reach a consensus on this, with 18 members in support of Council becoming manager
of the Noosa River and six members not in support.

Those in support of Council becoming manager of the Noosa River viewed that:
   The State Government had been unable to effectively manage the river.
   Any cost to Council could be offset by user pays revenue.
   Bringing management of the river closer to the Noosa community would see it run better.

Those who did not support this view considered that:
   Management would be too big an issue for Council.
   There may not be enough revenue to cover the costs to Council and that ratepayers should
     not have to pay higher rates.
   There was significant risk involved.
   It is a role that should be undertaken by State Government authorities.
   Noosa is a small community and should not have to take on this responsibility.
   The river is still one of the best in the country.

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