Further to our June 2025 update regarding the former Noosa North Shore Landing Ground Reserve (Teewah Airfield), we have continued correspondence with the Minister for Environment seeking clarification on several outstanding matters.

As previously outlined, trusteeship of the site transferred from Noosa Shire Council to the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) in November 2021, with the site incorporated into the Great Sandy National Park in September 2024.

Sandy has raised resident concerns regarding emergency use, transition arrangements for recreational aviation clubs, and the continuing need for clear stakeholder engagement to the minister. In the latter half of 2025, these included:

  • Confirmation that the site will continue to be maintained in a condition suitable for emergency and disaster situations, including rescue landings such as LifeFlight operations. We were previously advised this would be achievable under National Park status and have sought confirmation that this remains the case and that it would be maintained to enable those landings.

 

  • That the current two-year temporary use period for the recreational clubs be extended to a three-year period, as allowable under legislation, for sufficient time for the clubs to identify and assess suitable alternate locations. This would incorporate the previously committed working group meetings between the departments involved, the clubs and Noosa Council, which we understand have not yet occurred.

 

  • Also followed up were on differing reports regarding progress, limited updates provided to stakeholders and the results of the 2023 community consultation and requested that a meeting be convened involving the department, clubs, emergency services and Noosa Council, and that Sandy be permitted to attend for transparency across stakeholders.

The Minister has yet to fully respond to these requests, though previously advised that DETSI continues to explore alternative options for the recreation clubs, noting that suitable sites in the area remain limited.

Sandy will continue to raise these matters with the Minister for Environment and provide updates once any response is received.

Community consultation

We understand a recreational club has obtained a copy of the consultation results undertaken in relation to the site indicating the report reflects support for retaining the airfield. However, to date a copy has not been provided to our office either by the club concerned, or by the minister’s office, as we have requested.

Given Sandy raised with various ministers, in speeches and meetings, the relevance of this portion of the site, including the confusion with information provided during community consultation, we continue to request this information be made public to inform our ongoing advocacy.

Annual Noosa MP Community Survey

In our 2025–26 Annual Noosa MP Community Survey, it was asked whether there was support, if required, for revoking and maintaining the former Noosa North Shore Airfield landing strip from National Park status for emergency services utilisation. Approximately 70% of respondents indicated support for this.

As the survey did not include a question regarding recreational use of the site, a single-issue survey will be posted up with background information, to reduce ‘Unsure’ responses from respondents on whether they support or oppose revocation for recreational purposes.

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.