Draft - Noosa River Plan Version 2

UPDATE - JANUARY 2020

Thank-you to everyone who took the time to make a submission as part of the Noosa River Plan V2 community consultation process.
Environment staff will now review and consider all of the feedback received and report back to Council with an updated draft Noosa River Plan.
Council hopes to endorse the updated, final Noosa River Plan for implementation early in 2020.

BACKGROUND

In 2017, Council endorsed a review and update of the Noosa River Plan (2004) under a whole of catchment framework, to address a number of key pressures affecting the river system and to progress recommendations of the Noosa River Community Jury.

Public consultation on the new Draft River Plan occurred in 2018. Based on the feedback received from the community and other stakeholders a new version has now been developed, and you are once again invited to have your say about it (see the Document Library to the right of this screen).

This version has been restructured to better align with Council’s overarching Environment Strategy and Sustainability Principles, as well as the targets, strategies and outcomes of the Noosa Environment Strategy, endorsed by Council in June 2019.

It articulates a stronger emphasis on the social, cultural and economic benefits the community derives from the Noosa River, and also incorporates a new section about management of the Noosa River mouth. In addition, and due to further research conducted on commercial fishing and benthic biodiversity, the new draft advances Council’s stated intent regarding commercial fisheries management reforms in Noosa.

The management themes outlined in the Draft Plan are:

• River Health and Biodiversity (riparian, wetland and oyster reef habitats, benthic biodiversity, barriers to fish passage, migratory shorebird and marine turtle habitats, polluted runoff from rural and urban areas, littering, wastewater treatment, coastal algal blooms).
• Sustainable use and enjoyment (boating, jet skis, anchored and moored vessels, living on the river, commerce and infrastructure on the river, speed limits and public safety, sustainable fisheries and Noosa River mouth management).
• Working together (stewardship of the river, engaging with the community and Kabi Kabi traditional owners, feedback and participation by the stakeholders, partnerships, partner projects and alliances underway).

To have your say:

1. Read the Draft Plan (located in the Document Library). For the history of this project you can also visit the Community Jury page on Managing the Noosa River here.
2. Scroll down to the Feedback tab below and answer the five (5) questions and provide any other comments you would like.