Noosa River Recreational Boating Facilities - Update

Karen Finzel98:27

Okay, we'll take it to the vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you. Shaun. And we're going to move on to item denoting by the committee, 8.2, Noosa River Recreational Boating Facilities - Update.

Thank you. Councillor. So this report provides an update on progress on recreational boating facilities in the Noosa River. 2022, Maritime Safety Queensland released the recreational boating facilities demand forecast in 2022. Council considered a very extensive report in June 2023 about which options it wanted to pursue or not. And in terms of the status report of the proposals that Council pursue, progress so limited has been made on defining scope at three facilities, including the Noosa Woods jetty at the end of Hastings Street or the park at the end of Hastings Street, scoping the approach to the Noosaville boat ramp and also starting, initiating a design process for the Hilton Esplanade to now leverage boat ramp which is currently an informal facility. In addition, I'm pleased to advise that Council has been advised that funding to the tune of 2.5 million is likely to be made available. Likely to be made available for MSQ for recreational boating facilities. We're still trying to determine the exact scope of that funding and exactly what we can use that funding for also, and the CEO has been in regular contact with MSQ to try and define that further. I'm happy to answer any further questions about the report.

So if I'll just focus on infrastructure provision so I can reference a lot of the other controls because it is a very complex world in terms of river management. Traditionally in regard to is public a recreational birding infrastructure. Boating infrastructure, Maritime Safety Queensland look after the over water components or fund the over water components if you think about a jetty over the water or a boat ramp that goes into the water. Maritime Safety Queensland have traditionally funded those facilities. When it comes to the shore which includes abatement walls, car parking, pathways connecting to those facilities signed. Then Council has traditionally been funded to those facilities. Once the facility is built or maintained, the facility gets handed over to Council to maintain on behalf of all the community. So it's a relationship between Maritime Safety Queensland. Council and the realisation of those assets. Now I just want to point out that relates to public facilities such as the niswil boat ramp and the like. Commercial facilities which are privately owned are a totally different kettle of fish and it really depends on the tenure and the relevant approvals they exist under. So that's in relation to infrastructure. I do note that Maritime Safety Queensland seem to have indicated that this time the 2.5 million might be made available for landslide facilities and that's a very, what's the word, promising information. From Maritime Safety Queensland because that's very non-traditional the way they've funded in the past. And if you look at the Maritime Safety Queensland recreational boating facilities website, they're very clear that they expect the landslide facilities to be funded by Council. Not funded by the State government. They expect it to be a partnership. So that's why we're nervously awaiting the confirmation of the funding from MSQ about what is the scope because a bit like that conversation we had in the previous matter about grant funding and you know investment of money and if Council has to co-invest funds to achieve upgraded boating facilities, it's currently not in our capital works program. So it's something that if Council sticks upgrading of our boating facilities a priority and the State government requires co-contribution, then that is a funding allocation that Council will need to make. So I'm eagerly waiting to see what that outcome is. Now, I was just dealing with recreational boating facilities there. I just want to note that other issues such as mooring and anchoring, you know, fish habitat management, sustainable fishing management, is managed under a plethora of state government controls. Council has no direct involvement in ongoing management actually on the river but obviously has a clear advocacy role to ensure the State government agencies are looking after the river on behalf of Council and the community.

So the initiation of the Noosa public getty comes from about three years ago so as a specific Council project. You know I've come more recently onto the scene and I to say that the scope even to myself isn't clear and there are a number of different stakeholders with differing expectations about whether it was an improved getty for public boating or whether it was an improved getty for commercial drop-off and pick-up or whether it was forecast in the future of public transport. For the first stage of the consultant's work is to actually look at all options and the pros and cons and the opportunities and constraints, like, as an example, to pursue a public transport getty requires significant disabled access, so if you think about the, you know, the ferry terminals in the Brisbane river, with all the, you know, variable ramps, there's a very good understanding of what you're in for, actually, to the facility of that, look. And also, discussions with carbon transport on Main Roads about the northern passengers transport study indicate that it's going to be a long way off until we get public transport on the Brisbane river. Some of the issues associated with commercials duties is that to run a full commercial duty they require tenure, which means private allocation of land, whereas all our public duties are on, you know, by grace of the State government and they don't require separate tenure. So, and then, you know, public recreational boating, one of the benefits we've got at Noosa Woods is that one location actually has de-draft, so boats with a good keel can actually draw alongside the public jetty, but ideally any jetty with a floating pontoon that goes up and down with the tide, because it's very difficult to tie alongside the jetty at the moment and try and clamp her up. So the first stage of the consultant's work is to actually present all of this information to get a common understanding, and then come to Councillors to discuss. It further about what do you think we should be pursuing, and then consider the consultation program. So to date we've done some one-on engagement with the Hastings Street Association, the Noosa commercial marine aquaradies, David Steele of the Noosa River ferry, and also the Noosa Parks Association because they were fundamentally, you know. Behind the creation of Noosa Woods with the closure of the caravan park, so key stakeholders have helped inform some of the things, the complexes we need to look at. We're looking forward to giving the councils a further briefing next week, you know, treachery out on the project, but we're at the beginning of it, so all of the questions you raise about what we should do is actually what we're trying to figure out, because there's so many different expectations of how we should approach that genie and what it should be used for. I hope that answers it, so it's just at the beginning of the process. I've got a arm, there's a Chair. I've got a Dean. I'll do the project manager now. Is there anything else you'd like to add to that, Dean?