2017-01-16 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                  16 JANUARY 2017


The Group requests Council’s assistance because it has received advice from State agencies that
an application from a private entity is unlikely to be supported. The Discovery Group proposes the
jetty would be public but it would lease a section for commercial purposes to allow its vessels to
moor at the jetty and pick up and drop off passengers for everglades tours.
In addition to the Discovery Group’s request that Council be the applicant for the construction of a
jetty, the Group submits it will:
      Provide an undertaking that all high speed vessel movements from the existing Gympie
        Terrace operation to the Everglades would cease.
      Prepare and submit all necessary applications.
      Meet all application costs including specialists reports, design, engineering and Council fees;
        preparation of MOU.
      Meet the construction costs for the jetty through an open tender process.
      Undertake necessary repairs and maintenance.
      Offer full indemnity to Noosa Council.
      Meet all costs for the annual DNRM lease fees.

Community and environmental benefit

The Discovery Group identifies a number of community and environmental benefits in its
submission, being:
   Removal of over 1,500 high speed vessel movements from the Noosa River’s lower reaches,
     to be replaced with low draw, low wash vessels designed to deliver minimal impact operating
     from the new jetty.
   The public jetty will facilitate access to Lake Cootharaba and adjoining waterways for canoe,
     kayak and other water based activities.
   Establish a navigable and safe boating access point from the south eastern foreshore of the
     existing campground.
   Facilitate fishing and boating without the need for launching and retrieving boats from the
     shore disturbing the lake bottom.
   Enhance disability access to enable the public to access the fish habitat area.

Support for submission

The Discovery Group has received the support for their redevelopment proposal from the following
State agencies and tourism organisations:
    In principle support from the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing and the
      Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events; and
    Letters of support from Tourism and Events Queensland, Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism
      Noosa.

Assessment of Request

The potential community and environmental benefits proposed are noted, they principally relate to:
   Reduction in large, high-speed tourist boat traffic by the Discovery Group and the
     environmental benefits of reduced wash.
   Potential to improve public boating and watercraft access to the area.




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