NON-POWERED WATER SPORTS FEASIBILTY STUDY · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                          13 NOVEMBER 2023


   •   Provided guiding principles for both the Chaplin Park and NYRC precincts.

The Study

Consultants Ross Planning were engaged in 2022 to undertake a Non-Powered Water Sports
Feasibility Study that:
   •   Considered the existing and projected demands associated with non-powered water sports
       in the lower reaches of the Noosa River
   •   Determined if there is critical mass for a dedicated facility for similar activities
   •   Documented functional and location requirements for a dedicated facility
   •   Provided identification and analysis of potential locations
   •   Articulated potential infrastructure requirements
The literature and strategic policy review undertaken as part of this study found that:
   •   Council has a strong sense of environmental custodianship and the need to carefully consider
       the impacts of infrastructure on limited public open spaces
   •   Council recognises the importance of active and passive recreation opportunities for
       community wellbeing
   •   Competing demands on the foreshore require careful planning to avoid detrimental impacts.
   •   Establishment of a non-powered water sport precinct is the preferred direction in Council’s
       adopted Foreshore Land Use Master Plan
   •   ‘No net loss of publicly accessible open space’ is a driving land use principle for the
       Noosaville Foreshore.
An internal cross-departmental working group consisting of Environmental Services, Sport and
Active Lifestyles, Infrastructure Planning, and Property Teams was established to guide and inform
the Study.

Scope of activities

The scope of the Study was very specific to establish clear and relevant parameters and
expectations. The consultant’s brief was to determine the feasibility of a co-located non-powered
waters sports precinct on the Noosa River foreshore that would cater for the current and future
activities of the key not-for-profit community sporting groups operating on the river and providing
non-powered water sports.
The methodology of the Study was as follows:

Stage 1: Inception and Set up
   •   Inception meeting and initial site tour
Stage 2 - Background research and analysis
   •   document and policy review
   •   trends analysis
   •   projected population (and workforce) trends
   •   non-powered water sport trends
Stage 3 - Site analysis
   •   site assessments