Request For A Status Report On The 2022 Noosa Shire Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study And Recommendations

Frank Wilkie107:32

Okay, we'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? Councillor Lorentson. Yes. Councillor Phillips, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Finzel, Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilson, Councillor Finzel, Councillor Councillor Wilkie against? Councillor Stockwell, Councillor Wegener. Motion is carried. Now come to item 5.4, another notified motion, which is a request for a status report on the 2022 Noosa Shire recreational boating facilities demand forecasting study and recommendations. Councillor Lorentson, would you like to read that out?

Amelia Lorentson108:06

A request for a status report on the 2022 Noosa Shire recreational boating. And recommendations that Council A: request the CEO to prepare a report to a future Council meeting addressing the following: 1. An update progress of the 2022 Noosa Shire recreational boating facilities demand forecasting study, specifically focusing on high-priority recommendations made by the State government, including a potential works program for A: Thomas Street, Noosaville, parking improvements. And walkway repositioning. B: Tewantin lake street, parking enhancements and installation of a new floating walkway. C: Hilton Esplanade, Tewantin, construction of a new two-lane facility. D: Noosa Woods, a replacement of a jetty with a pontoon. An analysis of how other councils have addressed shortfalls in trailer parking. And B: explore opportunities for state and Federal funding for prioritised projects.

Amelia Lorentson109:20

Councillor Wilson. So Noosa Shire Council faces a critical shortage of car trailing, trailer parking. We have only 36 spaces available and we have 4,900 registered. Trailer boats. In contrast, neighbouring councils like Sunshine Coast and even down south at the Gold Coast, they've expanded their boating facilities to meet increasing demand. Residents are arguing that they want their rates and they want their registration fees to be reinvested in essential boating infrastructure. Parking trailers in residential streets is not a sustainable solution. We have an excellent opportunity the moment to formalise and even upgrade the Doonella street boat ramp, which could accommodate 28 trailer parks, a rigging wash down bay, and a filleting station. Additionally, there is also opportunity space near the bridge for maybe a fishing platform, a picnic area, and potentially a boardwalk extending towards Hilton Esplanade. What this motion is seeking to do is to reaffirm Noosa's commitment to actively pursuing state and Federal resources to meet the growing needs of the boating community. It also seeks support from Council to prioritise Hilton Esplanade, Tewantin as the community's preferred location for a boat ramp redevelopment. I'll just put in my report just some key findings from the 2022 study and I'll just quickly list those. Firstly, Noosa's population is projected to grow from 56,308 people in 2021 to 64,999 by 2041. As of July 2022, Noosa had 5,146 registered vessels, 95% of which are trailable. The current the boat launching capacity is only 5.8 effective lanes, which is currently below the 9.8 lanes required to meet current demand. That's projected to be 11.3 the need by 2041. Existing boat ramps are under significant pressure, necessitating urgent upgrades. Simply the growing demand for car trailer parking spaces for recreational boating in South East Queensland highlights the need for action. Noosa community has consistently identified Hilton Esplanade Tewantin as a priority location for boat ramp redevelopment. Council has previously committed to engaging with Maritime Safety Queensland and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to secure increased funding. The onshore components of these facilities. Again, the motion in front of us seeks to reaffirm Council's commitment to advancing the high priority recommendations made by the State government in 2022 and to ensure that state and Federal resources are pursued to address the boating community's needs. It's also a call for the prioritisation of Hilton Esplanade Tewantin as the preferred site for boat ramp redevelopment.