Meeting minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                           20 JUNE 2024


            consideration, officers therefore recommended it be included for investigation and
            consideration in the River Plan.

            Question 2
            Could the Sustainable Transport Levy which is budgeted to raise $933,000 in the
            23/24 draft budget be used to repair and/or reconstruct the 'on land component'
            of the boat ramp and associated car and trailer parking at Hilton Esplanade or at
            any other boat ramp in the Noosa Shire? If not then why?

            Response provided by Acting Director Infrastructure, Shaun Walsh
            The Sustainable Transport Levy contributes towards the cost associated with a
            range of transport services and initiatives that have the purpose of reducing traffic
            congestion and demand on Noosa’s road network. This currently funds Councils
            “Go Noosa” initiatives including free bus services during peak times, satellite
            parking areas, carparking studies associated with demand management such as
            the carparking technology trail implemented by Council in 23/34 Christmas
            period. The levy is being fully expended at present and funding for new carparking
            initiatives would either need the levy to rise, or existing services to be curtailed. If
            levy funding was made available in the future for water transport, the most aligned
            for use of the Sustainable Transport Levy could be associated with any “on water”
            public transport including jetties for future public ferries (if that was a desired
            option), as well as support satellite carparking spaces for patrons of a public ferry,
            rather than construction of carparking and trailer parking for private use of the boat
            ramp. It is noted that Council has recently undertaken sealing and line marking of
            the existing boat ramp carpark at Noosaville as part of its ongoing funding
            allocations and commitment to asset renewal and maintenance. In terms of
            upgrades the optimal funding mechanism for boat ramp and associated car and
            trailer parking is grant funding, underpinned by use of Council asset renewal
            budget. To be able to seek grant funding Council would ideally have shovel ready
            projects to meet submission obligations of the state and federal government
            programs as they arise. Council has commenced Noosaville Foreshore
            Infrastructure Masterplan, to assist in having shovel ready plans for the Noosaville
            Boat Ramp, but note that more planning work needs to be done at other boat ramp
            and parking locations in the Shire such as Tewantin, and has budget allocations
            for future years to allow that work to commence.

   11.2.    ANDREW MCCARTHY

            Question 1.
            Having regard to the following commentary made by MSQ General Manager Mr
            Kell Dillon, appearing in Noosa Today on 10 May 2024: We are the state marine
            regulator, no one else is, and we intend to regulate the Noosa River through
            proper zoning and planning, recognising that it is an important resource for the
            state, and maximising its use for all people, not limiting it. Will the Noosa Council
            remove all references to vessel restrictions from the draft Noosa River Catchment
            Management Plan and all other Council plans and documentation that exist both
            now and in the future?

            Response provided by Director Strategy & Environment, Kim Rawlings
            Management of the Noosa River involves a number of stakeholders working
            collaboratively to address complex issues that surround the environmental,
            cultural, commercial and recreational elements of the river. The river is a dynamic
            system where actions and impacts need to be considered in an interrelated
            manner, rather than in isolation. Examples of this include riparian vegetation
            impact and bank erosion caused by excessive boat wash, downstream public
            health issues from illegal waste discharge and altered flood regimes from