Council looks to purchase Johns Landing

Noosa Council is in talks to buy Johns Landing to secure the significant environmental values of the site for future generations.

Johns Landing includes almost half a kilometre of Noosa River foreshore and is home to ‘endangered’ and ‘of concern’ vegetation. It is mapped as potential koala habitat and is part of a much bigger wildlife corridor that runs beside the Noosa River between Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroibah. 

“Purchasing this land is consistent with Council’s long-term strategy of acquiring environmentally sensitive land on the Noosa River as these land holdings become available,” Mayor Tony Wellington said.

“With this purchase, Council is looking to rehabilitate degraded sections of the land and make sure that the riparian areas on the river bank are protected from future development,” the Mayor said. “This parcel adds to the connective wildlife corridor joining hinterland forests with the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.”

The 49-hectare property has been in the Johns Family for three generations and is currently being run as a campground. 

As part of its negotiations to purchase the land, Council is working with government agencies and service organisations to find permanent accommodation for long-term residents of the Johns Landing campground.

“We started the process because the current landowners, who run the campground, are wanting to retire,” Council’s Community Services Director Alan ‘Fox’ Rogers said.

“While the camping ground currently provides cheap accommodation for low income battlers, the living conditions are far from suitable for permanent residents. There is no electricity or running water at the campsites and people are living a long way from shops, schools and other services.

“To help people find more suitable accommodation we’ve assembled a team of local services made up of representatives from a wide range of community and government agencies. These include the Department of Housing, Department of Communities, the Salvation Army Accommodation and Housing Services, United Synergies, Centrelink, Anglican Church of Noosa and Coast2Bay Housing Group.

“So far the team has already helped some residents to relocate, which is good news,” Mr Rogers said. 

Mayor Tony Wellington said, “The negotiations have not yet been finalised, but Council is committed to achieving a positive outcome for the environment, campsite residents, the wider community and the Johns family.” 

29 May 2017