2021-01-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                              18 JANUARY 2021


C.   Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to make minor amendments to the Terms of
     Reference for the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee in consultation with
     Maritime Safety Queensland.
D.   Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to appoint a Noosa Council Chair of the Noosa River
     Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
E.   Authorise Councillor <xx> to be an observer at meetings of the Noosa River Stakeholder
     Advisory Committee.
F.   Acknowledge and welcome the permanent presence of Maritime Safety Queensland in
     Noosa and resolve that, while MSQ maintains an active presence, Noosa Shire Council no
     longer seeks to take over management of anchoring, mooring and living on board on the
     Noosa River.



REPORT
Background
In 2014, Noosa Council publicly declared interest in taking on responsibility for the management
of anchoring, mooring, living on the river and commercial jetty leases. This decision was made due
to historic and ongoing concerns of Council and the community, which were not addressed during
implementation of the previous Noosa River Plan (2004). This was despite efforts of the then
Noosa River Community and Industry Advisory Committee (CIAC) to have these matters prioritised
for improved outcomes. At this time Council’s objectives were to:
   Take on management of anchoring, moorings and living on board vessels in the river.
   Seek legislative amendments to prohibit long-term unattended anchoring.
   Remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the river.
   Implement an on-river inspections and compliance program.
   Manage commercial jetty leases.

In 2015, Council sought broader community input regarding this intent to locally manage these
activities and engaged the independent new Democracy Foundation to establish a Noosa River
Community Jury to examine the topic: ‘How can we manage the Noosa River better? What role
should Council play and what resources should Council apply?’

Following their four month deliberation, the 24-member Community Jury recommended (via a
majority verdict) that Noosa Council should take on these responsibilities and recommend that this
be progressed through discussions with the State Government. Council resolved to utilise both the
12 additional Jury recommendations and the supporting explanations in the development of a
comprehensive River Management Strategy.

Council endorsed a review and update of the Noosa River Plan (2004) under a whole-of-catchment
management framework in January 2017 to progress recommendations of the Noosa River
Community Jury and address a number of key pressures affecting the river system.

Draft River Plan Version 1
The Draft Noosa River Plan was presented to Council in the July 2018 meeting round, for the
purposes of it going out to community consultation. At this time the Council report stated the key
focus areas of the River Plan were to progress transition of agreed management responsibilities
for anchoring, mooring and living on the river from the State to Council. Other important areas of
focus include protecting water quality, the Noosa River Marine Zones, boating speed limits, marine
infrastructure, commercial use of the river, sustainable fisheries, migratory shorebird habitat
protection and Hincksia alga blooms in Laguna Bay.


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