Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan
Noosa Council is developing an Integrated Catchment Management Plan for Burgess Creek, a coastal creek that flows from Noosa Heads through wetlands and bushland to Sunrise Beach.
Burgess Creek plays an important role in supporting local ecosystems, protecting downstream beaches and nearshore waters, and providing valued natural spaces for the community.
Like many urban coastal catchments, it is also affected by stormwater runoff, erosion, water quality issues, legacy land uses, climate change and extreme weather events.
The purpose of the Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan is to provide a clear, coordinated plan to guide how Burgess Creek is managed over time.
The plan will bring together the best available technical information with community and stakeholder input to identify practical actions that improve catchment health and resilience.
How the plan is being developed
The Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan is being developed in stages:
- Background research and evidence gathering, including monitoring and technical studies
- Early engagement with key stakeholders in the targeted engagement phase to understand local values, issues and priorities
- Preparation of a draft plan that brings together evidence and stakeholder input
- Community feedback on the draft plan through YourSay Noosa in the broader community engagement phase
- Refinement and Council consideration of the final plan.
Want to have your say?
In the targeted engagement phase, we invited key stakeholder groups in the Burgess Creek Catchment to participate in a series of workshops. What we heard during these workshops has helped to shape the draft Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan.
In the broader community engagement phase, all community members will be invited to have their input on the draft Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan.
You can provide your feedback via the online survey from 20 July to the 16 August 2026. Or, come along to the Community Information and Feedback Session in August. Date and venue to be confirmed soon.
The draft plan will be made available for community feedback. Your input will help Council identify:
- What matters most to you about Burgess Creek
- Whether the proposed directions and actions are on the right track
- Where the plan could be improved or clarified
Community feedback will be considered before the plan is finalised and presented to Council for adoption.
Phases
Broader community engagement
Purpose
To provide the broader community with an opportunity to explore the draft Burgess Creek Integrated Catchment Management Plan (ICMP), discuss proposed strategies and actions with Council officers and project partners, and provide feedback on priorities for implementation.
What happens – Online engagement (20 July to 16 August 2026)
Community feedback is gathered through the Your Say Noosa platform using an online questionnaire. To support informed participation, a document library is provided containing the full draft Burgess Creek ICMP, a plain-English Summary Plan, and a summary of the technical evidence underpinning the proposed strategies and actions. The online engagement period will be open from 20 July to 16 August 2026.
What happens – Community information session (13 August 2026, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, The J)
Community members are invited to attend a drop-in information session at The J, Noosa Junction, on 13 August 2026 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Council officers and project partners will be available to discuss the draft ICMP and seek feedback on the proposed strategies and actions. The session will operate as an interactive open-house event, with a series of themed information stations allowing participants to explore key topics, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to project staff.
The event is open to all community members and no pre-registration is required. Attendees are welcome to drop in at any time during the session and participate at their own pace.
Outputs
- Community feedback on the draft Burgess Creek ICMP, including the proposed vision, goals, strategies and actions.
- Validation and refinement of ICMP priorities and management responses.
- Identification of community priorities and preferences for future involvement.
- Your Say Noosa engagement summary and community consultation outcomes to inform finalisation of the ICMP.
Upcoming and ongoing events in this phase
- Aug13
Burgess Creek ICMP community information session
Events
Upcoming and ongoing events
Event date: August 13th, 2026 from 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM.
The J Noosa
7 registrants