2017-01-16 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 16 JANUARY 2017


4.2. Options for managing anchoring, access an amenity issues
In 2014-15 the State advised of two key options to progress management of anchoring etc. at a
local level, these include:
    Option 1: Review the provisions in the Transport Infrastructure (Waterways Management)
      Regulation 2012 to incorporate new or amended ideas to better manage these issues in the
      Noosa River; or
    Option 2: Review and amend the Noosa River Marine Zone established in 2009 by a former
      Noosa Council under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2004.
The State advised that with any new proposal, it would be Council’s responsibility to determine
local regulatory needs, undertake public consultation and present a case to the Minister requesting
State legislation where local laws are not suitable. They also require a commitment from Council
to appoint authorised persons to implement, manage and enforce any amenity or access
provisions. It should be noted that either option would likely prompt a legislative process and,
subject to State Government consideration, could take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to execute.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) advised its preference would be Option 2 to review and amend
the existing Noosa River Marine Zone to include new anchoring and living on board provisions.
They considered this arrangement a move towards a ‘one-stop-shop’ for waterways management.
4.3. Options for managing buoy moorings
Buoy moorings in the Noosa River are by default a category 3 mooring area managed by MSQ.
There is an opportunity to establish a category 1 mooring area with a dedicated mooring manager.
For Council to become the mooring manager, a proposal would need to be submitted to MSQ
containing the following information:
(1)    A management plan, including proposed fees;
(2)    Details of buoy mooring services for the proposed fees;
(3)    A compliance plan;
(4)    A pollution prevention plan;
(5)    A transition plan for existing mooring holders.
Once an agreement has been reached, MSQ advised they can re-gazette the area as category 1
and hand over mooring management. This matter could be progressed relatively quickly.
4.4. Options for managing derelict vessels
MSQ has restricted legislative powers to deal with derelict vessels under the current legislation.
Owners can be compelled to remove from the water vessels that are unseaworthy, a risk to
navigation or a pollution threat to the marine environment.
They advised the exercise of these powers is usually time consuming and expensive and MSQ is
not funded to remove vessels.
MSQ also advised that where vessels are not considered to be ‘derelict’ it is important to distinguish
that matters like ‘how the vessel looks or is maintained’ are not marine safety matters. These are
considered amenity/localised community matters and need to be dealt with through other avenues.
At this point in time, despite continued correspondence, the Minister of Main Roads, Road Safety
and Ports is yet to respond to Council’s proposal and enter into discussions on how to progress
these matters further.




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