Meeting papers

Recreational Water Monitoring Program: The program aims to monitor recognised recreational
water sites (specifically targeting primary contact recreation (the whole body or face is frequently
immersed in water) to mitigate potential risks to human health while educating the public on water
quality issues. In the Eastern Beaches, the wave zone at the mouth of Burgess Creek and the
swimming area near Sunshine Beach Surf Club are sampled for enterococci, an indicator
bacterium used to detect faecal contamination in waterways.

The program is conducted by Council’s Environmental Health Team in accordance with the
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in
Recreational Water (2008), using a set of ‘trigger values’ published by Healthy Land & Waters.
Elevated levels of enterococci will initiate either: a warning trigger - prompting daily re-sampling of
a site; or an action trigger - prompting signage, public awareness, and further site investigation.
For more information [email protected]


Bushfire risk management (Commenced)
Since the 2019-2020 Black Summer, Noosa Council has significantly increased its capacity to
prepare for, and respond to, bushfire risk and bushfire emergencies in Council managed bushland.

Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021: Identifies priority reserves for
fire management actions based on a comprehensive bushfire risk assessment across nearly 180
reserves. Actions include reserve fire management plans, fire trail and other fire risk mitigation
measures works, planned burns and collaborative working arrangements with neighbours and
other government agencies. The updated fire management plan considers the longer and more
intense bushfire seasons we are likely to experience as a result of climate change.

Fire Management Officer – 2021 - ongoing: A new position to implement the updated fire
management plan was filled and resourced in late 2021. While elements of reserve bushfire
management were implemented prior to late 2021, having a full time, resourced officer dedicated
to reserve fire management significantly increased Council’s capacity to plan for and respond to
bushfire risk across our conservation estate.

Reserve fire management program 2021 - ongoing: Since the Fire Management Officer position
was filled, 140 hectares of planned burns have been conducted on Council managed bushland in
collaboration with RFS and QPWS, over 70km of fire trails and other fire risk mitigation measures
have been installed, upgraded or maintained, working relationships have been strengthened with
other land management agencies, and 16 council officers have been trained in firefighting.




Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                         Page 90

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