Noosa 360

Throughout the three-year journey of MSQ’s Noosa River Management Plan, MSQ have worked to assist vulnerable liveaboard residents, with our office calling on the Minister for Transport and Main Roads for temporary/transitional storage sites, financial assistance for vessel relocation and…

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has provided further rationale in response to questions (as below) relating to the implementation of the Noosa River Management Plan. Q. Why was a Noosa river-wide, time-based anchoring limit adopted? Answer Stage 6 was implemented through…

Following implementation of the 28-day anchoring limit per financial year on the Noosa River, we took resident requests for a statement of reasons and review of the implementation of the regulations to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). The General Manager of…

As previously outlined in our January 2026 Update, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has commenced implementation of Stage 6 of the Noosa River Management Plan, introducing a 28-day anchoring limit for vessels 5 metres and over. This is a combined stages…

The final stage of the Noosa River Management Plan commenced on 1 January 2026, introducing a 28-day anchoring limit across the entire river system. As mentioned in our September 2025 Noosa 360 update, this follows the consolidation of the Stage…

As mentioned our July 2025 Noosa 360 update, Maritime Safety QLD (MSQ) agreed to review the scope of stage six of the Noosa River Management Plan. At a meeting since then, MSQ advised that following community feedback, they are consolidating…

As Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) continues to implement the various stages of the Noosa River Management Plan, residents raised the need to for an independent survey of anchored and moored boat numbers. In response, Sandy provided a Noosa MP grant…

As mentioned in our May 2025 Noosa 360 update, stage six of the Noosa River Management Plan (NRMP) is scheduled to commence on 1 October 2025 which applies a limit of twenty-eight days per year for anchoring vessels over five…

Boating Infrastructure We have continued efforts for improved boating infrastructure for the Noosa Shire including for funding to be provided for boat ramps as identified in the Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study 2022 and by…

With stages 5 and 6 commencing May 2025 and October 2025 respectively, there has been concerns raised that these changes will lead to further upstream being used as a ‘dumping ground’. As we have been assured by Maritime Safety QLD…

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have provided the below information in italics on the implementation of the next stages of the Noosa River Management Plan, based on community consultation and recommendations from the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee. In summary, it…

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have provided the below information in italics on the implementation of the next stages of the Noosa River Management Plan as previously reported, based on community consultation and recommendations from the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee.…

Following reports on a Facebook post dated 29 December regarding several houseboats being used for short term accommodation on the Noosa River, Sandy contacted Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to urgently investigate and take…

Following Sandy taking resident concerns to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) since July and many meetings regarding, MSQ have announced a six-month trial to allow vessels between five- and seven-point five meter to anchor on or near the shoreline for up…

As mentioned in our May 2024 Noosa 360 update, with a ‘no anchoring zone’ 60m from the southern shoreline that commenced on 15 July,  there is currently a trial exemption for vessels under 5m to access shops, services or to…

In response to questions relating to legislation permitting the recent management changes by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), we have obtained the following information: Stage 4 – no anchoring zone The current no anchoring gazettal has been issued by virtue of…

After being elected in 2017, one of Sandy’s first commitments was to improve the management of Noosa River. In an initial meeting with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in 2018, I covered the issues that needed to…

Following extensive advocacy for 6 years and community consultation since 2021, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has provided the below information on the next tranche of management changes for greater safety in and on our river including a timeline: Maritime Safety…

The following article was authored by Sandy Bolton MP and published in the Noosa Today on the 12th of April 2024: Firstly, a huge congratulations to all candidates as well as our now official Councillors in our local government elections! As…

As mentioned in our September 2023 Noosa 360 update, Maritime Safety QLD (MSQ) initiated new speed zones in the Noosa River. They are now progressing stage 2 via legislative changes, including anchoring limitations. The following is an extract from MSQ’s…

Following community consultation in February 2022, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have advised the following: Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has introduced new boating speed limits on the Noosa River to increase safety Enforcement officers will be active on the river to…

In response to our advocacy regarding navigational aids in Noosa River, including whether they can be lit at night, Maritime Safety QLD (MSQ) have advised the following regarding Noosa River being classified as a secondary waterway: Aids to navigation are…

Following on from our 9 February 2022 update, a research paper was recently released by CSIRO regarding the dioxins in Noosa River. The report indicates that the dioxins found in Noosa River have a unique ‘signature’ that do not match…

In response to queries regarding safety related incidents on Noosa River, we have obtained the following which occurred between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021. ALL AGENCIES COMBINED Infringement Formal warning TOTAL Speed 42 201 243 Safety 100 185…

A Marine Zone was setup in Noosa in 2009 under Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) legislation to manage certain activities, including limitations on jet ski usage, within the Noosa River and to balance the needs of maritime users with local community…