2021-09-13 GC Agenda - Item 11 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Oyster Project Annual Report 2

Community engagement

Public information sessions
On Monday the 14th of December 2020, TNC facilitated 9 public information sessions about the Noosa Oyster
Ecosystem Restoration Project. The purpose of the event was to:
    • Inform the Noosa community about the project
    • Seek further local endorsement for the project
    • Seek specific feedback and endorsement for the oyster restoration sites presented (Tewantin, Goat Island,
        Noosa Sound East, Noosa Sound West and Weyba Creek A and B)
    • Gain feedback as to further oyster ecosystem restoration opportunities in the Noosa River estuary

The public information sessions were promoted widely via TNC’s social media outreach system.
In response, 132 people viewed the project on the TNC Website and on social media the event received 16,561 hits
(Table 2).

Community Participants
28 community members attended the sessions (9 females, 19 males). Another four people called TNC with
information queries about the project and expressed that they supported the project but could not attend. Some 17
participants of the 28 participants were formally interviewed.

In summary, 15 of 17 respondents expressed unequivocal support for the project and its plans. Two respondents
expressed concerns that were unresolvable on the day. Of the 28 participants, we estimate that 24 of 28 participants
expressed strong support for the project and for the project sites and plans. This support echoes the outcomes of
virtually all 70+ one-on-one meetings the project had held with stakeholders leading up to the consultations and
represents a fantastic result.

From the public information sessions, four participants however, expressed strong objections to the project,
objections which were unreconcilable at the time. Two of these participants raised matters unrelated to the project
(access to historic water quality data + the projects potential contribution to the spread of 2378 Tera-chloro-dibenzo-
dioxin). Another participant strongly objected to the project having linkages to the Noosa Parks Association. The fourth
participant raised concerns about a raft of issues relating to oyster abundance, river health, project partners and the
results of past river management actions. Although TNC invested heavily in this individual, looking to find some
common ground or agreement, the participant remained unconvinced about the project’s relevance.

Community engagement workshop
On Monday the 7th of December 2020, TNC facilitated a community engagement workshop with key Noosa River
stakeholders. The objective of the workshop was to discuss opportunities for piloting community-based education,
volunteering and citizen science activities in 2021 that complement the project. These activities will be led by project
partners and supported, where resources allow, by TNC.

A summary of the meeting outcomes is presented below. TNC wishes to thank Noosa Shire Council for hosting this
event.

Attendees
John News - Noosa Community Biosphere Association
Dalia Mikhail - Noosa Environmental Education Hub
Richard Howard - Noosa Integrated Catchment Association



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