2021-01-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               18 JANUARY 2021


funding for the Keep It In Kin Kin catchment rehabilitation project, that has since been funded for
three years through the Multi-year Environment Collaborative Grants.

A key element of the first draft involved Noosa Council taking responsibility for the anchoring,
mooring and living on board from the State, which would involve a significantly increased Council
presence on the water. If Council no longer seeks this, but works with Maritime Safety Queensland
and the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee to achieve these outcomes, there are further
cost savings.

A revised budget of $928,750 over three years was put forward as a new initiative for the 2019/20,
2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years in anticipation of an endorsed plan. Funding has been
allocated out of the Environment Levy for these years, but has remained largely unspent, pending
the finalisation of the plan.

Some funding has been used in an expansion of the water quality monitoring network in partnership
with the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association and Noosa and District Landcare, with the
remainder being returned to the levy. These activities are key deliverables under the Noosa
Environment Strategy, and also form part of the Draft River Plan actions.

               Budget allocated out of EL      Expenditure
 2019/20       $248,500                        $4,760                    Water quality testing
 2020/21       $217,090                        $19,818 (YTD)             Water quality testing

Budget for implementation will be completely reviewed when the final version of the River Plan is
reported to Council, and will be subject to the normal budgetary consideration process.

Risks & Opportunities
The new Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee provides significant opportunity for
stakeholders to provide ongoing input into river and broader catchment management via a much
enhanced communication mechanism which will benefit all involved.

Delays in the delivery of the Noosa River Plan, though for good reasons outlined in this report,
have unfortunately led to a lack of trust in some members of the community. The feedback received
from the community has been generous and invaluable in the development of the Draft Plan, and
this report provides recognition of the feedback received to date and a process by which the Plan
will be finalised in 2021.

Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
This report includes a collation of feedback received during two significant, external consultation
periods on the Draft River Plan which includes the broader community and relevant State agencies.
It represents a very wide level of engagement.

Council has worked closely with Maritime Safety Queensland in developing a join terms of
reference for the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Staff engaged with the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in developing the Terms of Reference, seeking advice on
GBRMPAs own Local Marine Advisory Committees, as their committees have been very
successful over a long period of time.

Internal Consultation




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