2019-06-11 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Environment Strategy

Strategy 2.3: Manage waterways and coasts to protect environmental
		            values while enabling sustainable public access, recreation
		            and commercial use
Target                                                           •    minimising and management of encroachments onto
                                                                      dunal systems that impact vegetation and cause
By 2030, Noosa has a sustainable fishing industry and                 erosion
increased opportunity for recreational fishing.
                                                                 •    collaboration with community groups to protect and
Noosa’s waterways and beaches are a major attraction                  manage waterway health.
for visitors and residents. Visitors are particularly drawn to   Conservation of coastal areas is complicated by the
Noosa Main Beach, the stretch of beaches from Sunshine           range of different land managers involved. Council will
to Peregian Beach, Noosa National Park, Noosaville               engage, partner with, and advocate for better outcomes
foreshore, Noosa North Shore and the Great Sandy                 in coastal areas, which are not always within its direct
National Park. Large numbers of visitors flock to beaches        responsibility.
and waterways during school holidays and on weekends.

High levels of visitation can place significant pressure on
foreshores which provide a buffer against erosion and
protect coastal communities. Indiscriminate access by
pedestrians, as well as 4WDs driving on intertidal areas,
can cause erosion and environmental damage which
can be difficult to repair. Not addressing these factors is
likely to undermine the resilience of foreshores to climate
change driven rises in sea level and extreme weather
events.

A focus for the Environment Strategy is to continue to
protect our important waterways and foreshores but still
allow access for recreation and commercial activities
where this can be demonstrated to be environmentally
sustainable over the long term. This requires a range of
measures including:

•    adequate separation and vegetated buffers between
     development and active erosion zones
•    managing the type and intensity of recreational and
     commercial uses to ensure they are compatible with
     environmental and amenity values
•    ensuring commercial activities do not proliferate into
     public areas and adhere to environmental standards
•    controlled access to foreshores through fencing,
     signage and regulation
•    protection and rehabilitation of dunes, intertidal
     areas and riparian vegetation




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