Thank you for your recent input into Noosa 360’s first discussion and information share on the Noosa River.
This included the following forum topics: general items, on-water usage, waste/effluent and fishing. Queries and feedback from the community included the following:

• The need for a single over-arching body or organisation to be responsible for river management (in consultation with existing government departments). The participant position was that the Noosa Council should be the responsible for the overall river management.

• On-water usage centred primarily around jet skis and access. This included;
– Speed limits relating to accessing certain areas of the river that was not consistent based on geographic position.
– Access to launch craft seems to be restricted/limited due to the size of current facilities and the lack of a North Shore area.
– Under the previous Noosa River Plan (2004) the noise from was jet skis was a major factor. Technology and the evolution of craft indicates that pollution level and noise output has reduced since then and should be incorporated in assessing their impact on the environment.
– That wash from jet ski craft is negligible compared to other boating craft.

• There was concern by the amount of waste and effluent that is still regularly pumped into the river system by some vessels, despite two pump-out points being provided on the river. Suggestions were to look at a mobile pump-out service that could be provided to better way to service and/or monitor vessels to significantly minimise and reduce this practice.

• No comments were provided regarding fishing issues on the river.

• The potential impact of horse waste in some areas near the river was raised and also climate change and addressing issues such as sea level rise, dangerous marine life entering the river system and the impact on human life and the environment.

The upcoming draft Noosa River Plan is due to be open for consultation by June, and we trust that the information provided through this portal has assisted in your submissions to the River Plan. Further comments on this topic after the Draft River Plan is released are welcomed . We shall post updates as they come through. Should you wish to submit a proposal for Noosa 360, email the office at noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au

Once again thank you for your comments, feedback and suggestions as they are greatly valued, and also for the respectful and constructive sharing.

Our next ‘360’ engagement on Housing Affordability will be posted shortly, and we look forward to your contribution.