Having written to the new government after the 2024 State Election regarding the assistance promised by the former government on the relocation of sports clubs from the former Noosa North Shore Landing Reserve (the Reserve), the Minister’s response included the following:
I understand the Reserve has now transitioned to national park and a steering committee of senior Queensland Government officials is established to consider future options including alternative sites that may be suitable. The steering committee will work with Noosa Shire Council, the clubs and other parties in this process.
I note the commitment of the former government in regard to funding and can advise that the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is working on this and will liaise with the clubs directly.
As per our June 2024 Noosa 360 update, the previous government created the steering committee to support the relocation of the recreational clubs that were granted a two-year transition period, which is the maximum extension allowable for non-environmental uses once that land transferred to National Park under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The commitments from the previous government also included financial assistance to help with the relocation of the sports clubs due to their investment in infrastructure on the site, and we will continue our advocacy for this to be honoured.
Previous Noosa 360 updates include details on our efforts to retain the airfield for future recreational and emergency response use as well regarding the public consultation held in 2023. Regardless of our advocacy and resident feedback via the consultation, the former Noosa North Shore Landing, officially known as lot 7 on plan MCH4562, officially transferred to National Park on 20 September 2024 as notified at www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/sl-2024-0222/lh
The rationale provided by the former government at the time, included that the airfield had been closed to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft by Noosa Council since 2014 and used by recreational groups since under authorities that expired before transferring from Noosa Council back to state government management in 2022.
Furthermore, in response to concerns raised regarding disaster management, the then Minister for Environment wrote in May 2024, that the consultation process in 2023 included targeted discussions with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and confirmed that this land is not identified in the QFES Local Area Action Plan as a site for staging fire operations. Several factors excluded the use for this purpose including the impediments associated with access (one way in and out), the location being surrounded by volatile heath vegetation and potentially exposing crews to entrapment threats during wildfires as well as no water being on site.
The minister further explained that in a declared emergency, fixed wing aircraft would be launched and landed at Kybong (near Gympie) or Caloundra, and as helicopter landing is flexible, emergency helipads are located at Teewah Village and Noosa North Shore Hotel. An incident management team either under QFES or Department of Environment’s direction also have statutory authority to make access decisions over any land for the purpose of managing an emergency, including National Parks.
The details of the land transfer are outlined in the explanatory notes for the Forestry and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024 at www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/published.exp/sl-2024-0222
Below is the appropriate excerpt found on page 7:
4. Schedule 3: Conservation parks of the Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Regulation 1994 to:
e. dedicate an area described as lot 7 on plan MCH4562, containing an area of about 428 hectares, as part of Great Sandy National Park, about 128 kilometres north of Brisbane. The area is predominantly natural closed heath and melaleuca open forest containing very high conservation values. Dedication of the lot as national park tenure will consolidate boundaries and benefit national park management.
Further Information
Previous Noosa 360 updates on Teewah Airfield can be found at www.sandybolton.com/?s=teewah+airfield. A brief summary of the history is available on our update at www.sandybolton.com/teewah-airfield-update-june-2024.
For anyone wishing to contact the Minister for the Environment regarding this land and it’s future use, email enivronment@ministeral.qld.gov.au. Please copy our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.