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 (MSQ) previously, they will be delivering the agreed upon outcomes for our whole river system on the 28-day rule to prevent any unintended consequences and will be advising of further stages later in the year.  The below information in italics is an update provided by MSQ recently however please note the following reminders:

  • Stage 5 – from 31 May 2025: Boats over 5 metres are not allowed to anchor within 30 metres of the northern shoreline of the Noosa River. Exemptions currently apply for boats between 5 and 7.5 metres who are allowed to anchor in this area for up to 2 hours per day.
  • Stage 6 – from 1 October 2025: A limit of 28 days per year for anchoring vessels over 5 metres in length on the Noosa River system below Lake Cooroibah.

Sandy will continue to work with MSQ and communicating community feedback during the implementation of the Noosa River Management Plan. We will continue to update as further information becomes available.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is continuing to implement the Noosa River Management Plan through a staged and considered approach.

The staged implementation has already introduced important zoning measures such as speed limits and anchoring restrictions, alongside a broader package of initiatives designed to increase safety, improve access for all waterway users and protect the environment and the river’s ecosystem.

Community feedback has played an important role in shaping the plan. Throughout the process, MSQ has listened to the Noosa community and made targeted adjustments to ensure the Noosa River Management Plan is delivered in accordance with the extensive community and stakeholder consultation to date, which will ensure a cleaner, safer, and more accessible waterway for everyone.

Stages 1 to 4 of the Noosa River Management Plan have now been successfully implemented. These stages focused on:

  • Addressing derelict and unseaworthy vessels and ensuring compliance with pollution regulations.
  • Introducing lower speed limits in safety-critical zones.
  • Implementing anchoring restrictions to reduce pollution, improve amenity and ease congestion in the lower Noosa River.

Stages 5 and 6 were released on 9 April 2025.

  • Stage 5 will take effect from 31 May 2025 and introduces restricted anchoring for vessels over five metres within 30 metres of the northern shoreline, from the Noosa Bar to Lake Cooroibah. These restrictions are consistent with the rules that were introduced during Stage 4 of the Noosa River Plan and apply to the Noosa River southern shoreline and the Woods Bay/Little Woods Bay and Noosa sound areas.
  • Stage 6 is scheduled to begin on 1 October 2025. It will limit all vessels over five metres to anchoring for no more than 28 days per calendar year in the Noosa River below Lake Cooroibah. This is a staged program, and future stages will expand these limits across the broader Noosa River system.

MSQ is fully committed to the full implementation of the Noosa River Management Plan across the whole of the Noosa River system and its tributaries.

The staged approach to the delivery of the Noosa River Management Plan ensures responsible implementation of the program – balancing immediate safety concerns with community expectations and allowing time for members of the community who may be affected by the reforms to adapt and comply.

While the plan is being rolled out, vessel owners are reminded of their obligations to maintain a seaworthy vessel and comply with all safety and pollution regulation. MSQ officers will continue active patrols of the Noosa River and its tributaries to ensure compliance with those regulations.

Full details of the Noosa River Plan are available on MSQ’s website: www.msq.qld.gov.au.

To provide feedback to MSQ, please email sunshinecoast.martime@msq.qld.gov.au and CC us in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Commercial net fishing in the Noosa River

During our 2025 Noosa MP Community Survey, some residents raised concerns regarding the increase in illegal fishing being undertaken in the Noosa River. In response, we wrote to the new Minister for Primary Industries, who provided the following in italics:

I can confirm that there is limited commercial netting activity that occurs in the Noosa River, with closures to netting in place for the main beach and the town reaches of the river, Weyba Creek, Lake Cootharaba and upstream. Commercial netting for primary target species such as bream, whiting, flathead and mullet in this area is managed under an East Coast Inshore Fishery Harvest Strategy that limits the number of fish that can be taken in the broader Southeast Queensland region. These species are monitored and managed, and the commercial catch and effort information is used to inform the sustainable status of these and many other species.

The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol has a significant presence in this area with an office based in Noosa. If your constituents believe that illegal fishing is occurring in the closed waters of the Noosa River, I encourage them to call the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol will continue to work in this area to ensure commercial netting is conducted in accordance with the regulations.

We will continue to monitor this and welcome any feedback from Noosa state electorate residents to inform our ongoing advocacy via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Further information

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on the Noosa River, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Noosa+River.