Meeting minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                              18 JULY 2024




      7.1.      DEPUTATION - SHARK MITIGATION IN NOOSA SHIRE
                APPLICANT: OCEANS FOR ALL - CAROLYN LANSDOWN, CHAIRPERSON
                SPEAKERS: TAYLOR LADD HUDSON, ALBIE CURTIS, JARRAH SMALL


      7.2.      DEPUTATION - PEOPLE'S PARK
                APPLICANT: NICK COOKE
                SPEAKERS: NICK COOKE


11.           PUBLIC QUESTION TIME


      11.1.     TAYLOR LADD HUDSON - SURFRIDER FOUNDATIONS SUNSHINE COAST

                Question 1.
                Does this next generation of Noosa residents being young people deserve new
                modern solutions and alternatives in the management of Shark mitigation
                strategies?
                Response provided by Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings
                Working closely with representatives from the Department of Agriculture and
                Fisheries (DAF), Noosa Council adopted a Council policy position on the Shark
                Control Program (SCP) in June 2024. The purpose of this strategy was to support
                the State transition to lower bycatch potential alternatives in waters adjacent to
                Noosa. Holding a policy position now also allows Council to effectively represent
                community views and desired outcomes of the SCP to the State. Under the
                Queensland Shark Management Plan, Noosa Council and SLSQ have assisted
                DAF to undertake a range of alternative bite mitigation trials, including the delivery
                of SharkSmart community awareness programs and drone detection trials. Noosa
                Council will continue working with the State to help transition the SCP to lower
                bycatch potential alternatives. Primarily, this will be through the upcoming review
                process of the Queensland Shark Management Plan.


                Question 2.
                In my work as a youth eco leader, I have learnt that 95% of kids aged eight to 19
                years old do not want to fish sharks and want to see them thriving and healthy
                populations off our coastline. We are so lucky to be named as UNESCO
                biosphere, can we uphold our values of a biosphere and lead the way to be a trial
                site for innovative Shark mitigation strategies?
                Response provided by Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings
                In 2010, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries introduced a maximum size
                limit and stricter take and possession limits on non-protected sharks in
                Queensland waters. These changes were based on fishery stock assessments
                and stakeholder consultation. Noosa Council acknowledges that your community
                observations regarding the importance of sustainable shark fisheries are
                supported by a number of residents within Noosa Shire. Council views our
                advocacy to the State for the transition the SCP to lower bycatch potential
                alternatives is a key strategy in upholding our values as a Biosphere Reserve.
                UNESCO defines Biosphere Reserves as places that should promote the testing
                of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and
                interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention
                and management of biodiversity. It is Council’s and the community's responsibility
                to represent our Biosphere values to the State Government. It is understood that