Meeting papers

during rough weather. About 155 hectares of coastal land were affected, needing about $31 million
and 1500 people to clean up. Other effects included oiled wildlife and degraded coastal
ecosystems, closed and restricted local fisheries and reduced recreation and tourism.

Marine and riverine oil spills trigger an initial joint response from Maritime Safety Queensland and
Council, with Queensland Department of Environment and Science responding to oiled wildlife.
Council may be the lead responder in smaller spills, while Maritime Safety Queensland is the lead
responder for larger spills. Council’s response is guided by the Marine and Riverine Oil Spill
Response Plan.


Marine strandings
Marine strandings occur when alive or dead marine mammals, turtles or large fish wash up on
beaches, triggering a Council and Department of Environment response process. Where large
numbers of small fish or other animals wash up onto the beach this process may also be triggered.

Human safety, for staff, rescuers and the general public is always the first consideration, and when
the animal is alive, humane and ethical considerations also come into play, triggering Department
of Environment and Science and veterinarian assessment and a possible rescue response. Where
a dead animal may have conservation significance, such as a humpback whale, turtle or dugong,
data or the body may be collected for further assessment or preservation. Body disposal is usually
undertaken by Council to minimise public health risk, andrisk and replicate natural processes
where possible.


Emergency access
During recent natural disasters it became clear Council could benefit from improved emergency
access to Noosa’s beaches. Most beach accesses are inaccessible to even small All-Terrain
Vehicles. Access for light vehicles, large machinery or large trucks is very problematic. Even where
the accesses would otherwise be suitable, community infrastructure in nearby open spaces, road
reserves, or along the beach accesses complicate or entirely prevents their use by large or long
vehicles and machinery. Restricted access means more machinery movements along longer
lengths of beaches, with accompanying budgetary, environmental and beach user impacts.
Identifying a few simple, short beach accesses that could be modified to allow large machinery and
small vehicle access could help resolve this issue. Consideration of accompanying budget, as well
as environmental and beach user impacts is needed to better understand the costs and benefits of
improved emergency beach access.



EBFMPEBFRMP Management activities
The following actions are identified for implementation:
Prioritisation:
• Immediate: < 1 year
• Medium:1 year – 3 years
• Long: 3 years – 5 years
• Continuing: Commenced and ongoing.
The following actions are identified for implementation:

 Action                                                        Responsibility    Priority
 15.1. Identify site specific fire risk interface treatments   Environmental     Immediate
 as required by the Noosa Strategic Bushfire                   Services          Continuing
 Management Plan.


Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                       Page 70


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