Meeting papers

15. Encroachments
Encroachments into foreshore reserves include damaging vegetation, filling, dumping rubbish, yard
extensions, private infrastructure and unauthorised planting. As the impact and area of
encroachments continues to expand in the EBFRs, their ability to contribute to nature-based
community climate change resilience under the CHAP 2021 and to improve coastal ecosystems
under the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 is compromised.

Encroachments are not isolated to Eastern Beaches and are shire wide. They are managed on a
shire wide basis for all of Councils bushland reserves under existing Local Law No.4 (Local
Government Controlled Areas, Facilities, & Roads) 2015 and supporting Encroachments Policy
2023 and Encroachment Procedures 2023.


Objectives
All management objectives


Outcomes
   •   Encroachments are strategically managed and prioritised on a risk management basis to
       reduce the area of bushland reserve impacted by encroachments to improve environmental
       values and manage bushfire risk.
Education and communication
Ongoing communication between Council, visitors and neighbours can contribute to the protection
and enhancement of the EBFRs and minimise impacts from encroachments. Education and
communication will be the first option in dealing with neighbour impacts.


Local Law No.4
Activities in Council managed reserves relating to encroachments are regulated under Local Law
No.4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities, & Roads) 2015. But how these impacts are
dealt with by Council can be subjective or inconsistent, which can make it difficult for Council
officers to respond to them unless clear processes are put in place to help guide how best to
prioritise and restore encroachments.

The new Encroachments Policy and Procedures provide for a consistent and transparent whole of
Council response to encroachments that better meets community expectations and protects the
social and environmental values of the EBFRs. Council’s approach for managing encroachments
include education and communication as a first option, a range of non-regulatory responses, and a
clear and methodical regulatory response under Local Law No.4. This is supported by a Natural
Areas encroachment recovery program with a detailed risk management matrix, a dedicated officer
for managing shire wide encroachments in bushland reserves and additional funding for
restoration.


Encroachment descriptions
Encroachments are unauthorised improvement or use of another’s land.
Private beach accesses on public reserve land
Making or using private and / or informal beach accesses clears native vegetation, causes erosion
and spreads weeds. They fragment the bushland, create weak spots for severe weather impacts
and open the foreshore to increased salt, wind and storm damage.


Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                   Page 65

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