Professor urges Noosa 'cherish river asset'

Professor Stuart Bunn, Director of the Australian Rivers Institute, has told the Noosa Community Jury that Noosa River is still a good example of a healthy waterway, and one the community should “cherish”.

“River systems worldwide are in huge trouble from the effects of population pressure and climate change,” Professor Bunn said.

“Noosa River is in good shape. Appreciate and care for what you have.

“We need to raise the level of water literacy and protect the whole river catchment,” he said.

Noosa’s Community Jury requested a presentation from Professor Bunn to help inform them of the implications for waterways where pressures such as pollution are left unchecked.

In addition, the jury requested input from Paul Grossman, President of the Noosa Commercial Boatmans’ Association who told the jury: “We now have fewer commercial boating operations than in the past, yet we have an average 2.9% annual increase over a five-year trend in recreational boat registrations, with over 18,500 boats currently registered on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Grossman said.

Mr Grossman said commercial boat owners were concerned about communication between river regulators, the lack of lighting on vessels in the river, congestion at commercial jetties and what they see as a need for more enforcement.

Both these presentations gave ‘context’ to the topic the jury is charged with deliberating.

The jury questioned the speakers in smaller groups before reconvening to decide what new information they wanted and who they’d like to question.

The jury has so far received nine community submissions including 150 pages of information from the Member for Noosa. Community members have posted more than 50 forum comments on Council’s Your Say Noosa website, where everything, including answers to 17 research items requested by the jury, is located.

The jury will meet again on 14 October at 6pm at Council’s Tewantin Chambers, with members of the public welcome to attend and observe.

Members of the community can come along and have their questions about the jury process and the topic answered at a Noosa River Jury Pop-Up on Thursday, October 8 between 10am – 12 noon at Noosaville Library.

Submissions to the jury can be made online at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au, where the community can also participate in the discussion and view all documents.

21 September 2015