Draft - Noosa River Plan Version 2

Thank-you to everyone who took the time to make a submission as part of the Noosa River Plan V2 community consultation process.

Status of the Draft Noosa River Plan

The Noosa River Plan is Council’s key strategic document on maintaining the health of the Noosa River. There are many different agencies involved in the management of the Noosa River and some elements within the plan are within Council’s direct control, while for others Council takes an advocacy role on behalf of the local community.

In 2017, Council endorsed a review and update of the previous Noosa River Plan (2004) and a new Draft Noosa River Plan, incorporating a whole of catchment approach to managing the Noosa River system, has been developed. Public consultation on this new Draft Plan occurred in December 2019/January 2020.

This new Draft River Plan is not yet endorsed by Noosa Council and is waiting on further community feedback before finalisation. A key input to this will be the newly developed Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee, in partnership with Maritime Safety Queensland, who will provide feedback on community priorities to inform the final version of the new Noosa River Plan.

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).