2021-01-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               18 JANUARY 2021


   Please note that TMR, largely through the activities of MSQ, has been more actively
     engaging with NC. This increased level of cooperation will continue. I believe initiatives such
     as MSQ recently improving its regulatory presence through the targeted activities of its
     marine enforcement team performing on-water activities, is evidence of our commitment.
     This on-water presence on the Noosa River was welcomed by the community, and MSQ
     looks forward to conducting further patrols in the future.
This feedback highlighted the increased resourcing and presence of Maritime Safety Queensland
in the Noosa River estuary, which was occurring at the time, and also reflects a shift in support
against Noosa Council undertaking management of State responsibilities.
In November 2019, Maritime Safety Queensland announced the launch of the Maritime
Enforcement Team (MET) in the Noosa River over several weekends conducting compliance and
safety checks, and the appointment of a permanent officer stationed on the Noosa River in
February 2020. MSQ have now also established an office at the Noosa Marina, which is open to
the public.
While this was just at the beginning of the onset of COVID, significant progress has been made in
2020 on issues of long-standing concern to Noosa Council and the community has welcomed
MSQ’s on-water presence.
Under the War on Wrecks Program from 1 July 2019 to 31 October 2020, 11 vessels have been
removed, or resolved by the owner, for the Noosa River. As of November 2020, a further 11 have
been identified, five of which have already been resolved (4 had safety issues resolved and 1
removed). There has also been compliance action on two collapsed boat sheds, as well as the
usual day-to-day activities related to protecting waterways and the people who use them. It has
been an active and successful start to MSQ’s presence on the Noosa River.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 16 July 2020, Item 2, Page 7
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the Planning &
Environment Committee meeting dated 7 July 2020 and:
A.   Approve the Project Management Plan (provided as Attachment 1 to the report) as meeting
     the requirements of the Project Implementation Plan outlined in the Alliance & Funding
     Agreement subject to Council appointing an independent scientific expert to provide a review
     of the project’s Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting Plan. The review is to include an
     assessment of the effectiveness of the methodology, project’s goals, measures, outputs and
     outcomes within the context of ecological restoration and the terms of the three year contract,
     and recommendations (if any) for improvement to be included in the Monitoring and
     Evaluation Plan; and
B.   Note the Terms of Reference of the Noosa River Oyster Restoration Project Technical
     Advisory Group (provided as Attachment 2 to the report); and
C.   Establish a Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group to provide strategic input, local
     knowledge and expertise into River Management initiatives, initially providing input into this
     Shellfish Restoration project and more broadly into finalisation and implementation of the
     Noosa River Plan, and
D.   Delegate to the CEO to determine the Terms of Reference and undertake a process to
     establish the Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group together with the appropriate role
     for Councillor representation on that Group.
Special Meeting Minutes, 28 November 2019, Item 1, Page 2
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Special Meeting
dated 28 November 2019 and
A.   Endorse the Draft Noosa River Plan as provided at Attachment 1 for the purpose of further
     community consultation subject to:

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