Noosa River Management
The Noosa River is a beautiful and complex waterway, and management of this dynamic system involves multiple agencies across all three tiers of government (Local, State and Commonwealth) in relation to different locations, impacts and activities on the river.
Noosa Council is working with the local Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) on a new engagement protocol to ensure First Nations perspectives are included in ongoing management of the Noosa River and its catchment.
Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee
In early 2021, the State regulatory agency for coastal waters of Queensland, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) and Noosa Council committed to engaging with local stakeholders and communities as an essential component in the management of the Noosa River and its catchment.
The Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee (NRSAC) was formed in April 2021 with key community representatives across sectors of river use including community, recreational, fishing, tourism and environmental, co-chaired by MSQ’s General Manager Noosa Council’s CEO, and completed its term in March 2023.
The purpose of the NRSAC was to provide advice to Council and MSQ on sustainable use and management of the Noosa River and its catchment.
After nearly two years of deliberations, NRSAC achieved a landmark legislative policy proposal outcome, with MSQ taking a range of initiatives to improve the safety and amenity of the Noosa River system to public consultation in December 2022.
The new Noosa River initiatives included a suite of proposals to manage speed, anchoring, transit arrangements for visiting vessels, waterski areas, and near shore access for all vessels.
View a report on the achievements of the NRSAC and the map MSQ took to public consultation on the new proposed initiatives, which are intended to inform a new Noosa River Marine Zone map under the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act.
Noosa River Catchment Management Plan
Development of a Noosa River Catchment Management Plan is included as a signature project within Noosa Council’s Corporate Plan 2023-2028, and Council is developed it as a framework for collaboration with key stakeholders, investment, and action for implementation.
The plan will be reviewed on an annual basis to assess environmental condition and the effectiveness of management actions.
Engagement with other Government and non-government agencies to inform future governance of Noosa River management issues is ongoing, and the future model will be determined in the 2023-24 financial year.
NRSAC Committee Members
| Name | Sectors represented (as nominated by the candidate, primary sector first) |
|---|---|
| CEO | Joint Chair Noosa Shire Council |
| General Manager | Joint Chair Maritime Safety Queensland |
| Joanne Daley | Recreational boating |
| Bruce Davidson | Recreational Fishing |
| Michael Gloster | Conservation group, recreational boating |
| Jane Harris | Recreational boating |
| Nick Hluszko | Other – community leader experienced in river issues |
| Richard Howard | NRM group, conservation group |
| Peter Hunnam | NRM group, recreational boating |
| Chris Massoud | Commercial fishing |
| Phillip Moran | NRM Group |
| Agnes Reed | Recreational boating |
| Lachlan Stevens | Commercial boating, Tourism |
| Erica Hamp | Tourism Sector |
| Amy Kimber | Committee support provided by Noosa Council |
Community members on the committee were selected following publicly advertised selection processes in 2021 and 2022 and were appointed for 2 years.
The Noosa Mayor, Clare Stewart and Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton, had a standing invitation to attend the NRSAC meetings as observers.