2018-08-07 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve 10 Year Periodic Review

2.2.3 Changes in the human population

The population of Noosa grew steadily from 2011-15, but has since slowed. The population growth rate
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of Noosa in 2016-17 was positive at 0.8% (down from a high of 2.1% recorded in 2008). Table 6
below shows population figures from 2011 to 2016. The nomination report provided the 2007 figure
(based on an extrapolation of the 2001 Census data). According to the 2016 Census data provided by
the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the population of the Noosa Shire was 54,033 at 30 June
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2016. The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 projects Noosa’s population to be 63,000 at
2041 at a growth rate of less than 1%.

Table 6: Population growth rates, Noosa Shire
    Year                             Noosa Population (Shire)             % growth
    2011                                    51,038                          1.3
    2012                                    51,703                          1.4
    2013                                    52,407                          1.3
    2014                                    53,085                          1.3
    2015                                    53,629                          1.0
    2016 (latest data available)            54,033                          0.8
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, November 2017, 1410.0 Data by Region 2011-16.

2.2.4 Update on conservation function

The significant changes in conservation function are detailed in Section 4 of this report. In brief the main
changes to landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation are:
•        Landscape: There have been some marginal changes to landscape amenity in designated
         natural resource areas such as quarries and plantations, but overall there has been little change
         to Noosa landscape values.
•        Ecosystems: There has been a reduction of vegetation cover by 122 ha across the biosphere,
         but regional ecosystems are still represented with 61 different ecosystem types, plus waterway
         and marine ecosystems. There have been changes in regional ecosystem classifications and
         numbers but this is largely due to improved science and mapping. Threatened Ecological
         Communities, such as sub-tropical lowland rainforest, remain relatively intact.
•        Species: Table 10 in Section 3.3 summarises changes at a species level. Again, most of these
         changes are due to improvements in knowledge through research and reclassifications of
         conservation status and species numbers. Most noticeable changes are in urban areas where
         some native species appear to be on the decline (koalas, frogs, snakes, gliders) while other
         native bird species are on the increase (lorikeets, plovers, magpies, scrub turkeys). Pest species
         such as feral cats, dogs and pigs are known to impact on wildlife. It is unknown what the actual
         extent of predation is across the biosphere, but it is likely to be having a significant impact on
         native species. A study on beach fauna by USC indicates that 4WDs are impacting on the
         number and diversity of intertidal beach fauna. HLW monitoring indicates that fish populations
         have fluctuated over the last 10 years. Some fish species are at risk. For example the Estuary
         Stingray [Hemitrygon fluviorum] is now listed as “Near Threatened” under the Nature
         Conservation Act 1992.
•        Genetic variation: There have only been limited studies of genetic variation in Noosa. The NBRF
         has provided grant funding to USC to assess and map the health of koala populations across the
         NBR. Preliminary studies indicate that coastal koalas may be suffering from genetic isolation
         because of development and rural koala populations are potentially healthier. The results of this
         study are yet to be finalised.

In 2017, the proportion of terrestrial coverage in the NBR that is protected was 36.5% - well above the
17% target of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and the estimated 8% of terrestrial
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coverage in Queensland . Meanwhile, land clearing of woody vegetation in Queensland increased to


14
      ABS (2015a), QGSO (2015)
15
      https://planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/planning/better-planning/state-planning/regional-plans/seqrp
16
      2017, Queensland Government, Draft Protected Area Strategy, p.3



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