During our recent annual Noosa MP Community Survey, some residents raised the need for increased patrols in national parks during peak times. Following our enquiries and previous advocacy, the Queensland Minister for Environment provided the below information in italics on plans to increase ranger patrols.

BACKGROUND

Rangers are rostered on at peak times to focus on compliance in national parks.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) acknowledges the increased impacts and pressures on national parks due to the growth of visitors to the Noosa area and the whole of the Sunshine Coast.

As a result of this and other emerging activities, such as the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, the need for increased compliance within the national parks is evident.

KEY ISSUES

In response to the above, QPWS are increasing compliance patrols outside regular working hours. This will include more patrols scheduled for peak times.

QPWS compliance training is also systematically being carried out to increase the number of authorised officers (rangers) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Forestry Act 1959 and the Recreational Management Act 2006.

QPWS have restructured their Cooloola Management Unit to incorporate a new compliance and education team aimed at enhancing visitor management and compliance activities.

QPWS rangers collaborate with the Noosa Shire Council local law officers, who manage

compliance within the Noosa National Park Day Use Area parking lot, and with the Queensland Police Service in joint targeted compliance operations.

The new land acquisitions and conversion of State Forest to Tewantin National Park in the Noosa Shire have resulted in two additional local ranger positions being created.

The Queensland Government has committed to boost the number of QPWS Rangers and Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers by 150 full time positions.

We thank the Minister for this response and welcome the additional rangers and increased patrols throughout our national parks, which with the impacts of excessive volume during peak periods and poor behaviours are greatly needed. We would appreciate any feedback on the above information to further inform our advocacy in this space. Please email our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Further information

For further information on the management and maintenance of national parks in Queensland, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/parks/management.

For further information on the Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program, visit www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/conservation/community/land-sea-rangers/about-rangers.

For those interested in becoming a QPWS ranger, visit www.detsi.qld.gov.au/our-department/employment/park-rangers.

For direct advocacy regarding matters related to national parks in Queensland, contact the Queensland Minister for Environment via environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

For the full results of the recent Noosa MP Community Survey, please visit www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-community-survey-results-2024-2025/.

Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.