Concerns raised over conservation park mention in Noosa River Catchment Management Plan

Commercial and recreational river users are up in arms over an ambitious plan to manage the future of the Noosa River, raising fears powered vessels could be given the boot.

The Noosa River catchment is the subject of a management plan that will be considered by Noosa Council. ​

Commercial and recreational river users say an ambitious plan to manage the future of the Noosa River, could pave the way for powered boats to be restricted in the future.

It comes as a draft version of the Noosa River Catchment Management Plan will be considered by the Noosa Council this week.

The plan sets out to balance the need to protect the ecosystem for future generations, while managing commercial and recreational use of the river catchment.

While there is broad support in the community for the plan, concerns have been raised about the future of powered boats throughout the river catchment.

It is understood that the mention of consideration of a conservation park in the plan has raised fears that powered vessels will have restricted access to the river catchment in the future.

A recent community gathering was held over the draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan. Picture: Nick Cooke

Noosa Boating and Fishing Alliance Co-Founder Andrew McCarthy said mention of a conservation park has created significant concern in the local boating community.

“Everyone is fearful, the conservation park has got people scared,” Mr McCarthy said.

“We don’t like the conservation park and we don’t like the anti-boating language.”

An example of the language used in the plan related to aquatic businesses and the need for them to operate “without deleterious impact on immediate, surrounding, or downstream environments and environmental processes”.

The Noosa River is used by both recreational and commercial boat users.

Noosa Commercial Marine Operators president and Boardwalk Boat Hire Noosa owner Lachlan Stevens said there was a lack of consultation with commercial operators in drafting the plan.

“We’ve been left without a voice,” Mr Stevens said.

“The river itself is an economic hub of tourism and commercial activity and for us to be excluded from that consultation process just isn’t satisfactory.”

The Noosa Parks Association made a submission on the draft plan based on a discussion paper on a proposed Noosa River Conservation Park.

Residents and tourists exercise along the Noosa River.

“Currently the Noosa River is managed under a plethora of state legislation and controls resulting in management outcomes that fall well below Noosa community expectations,” the discussion paper read.

“Noosa Council currently has very little formal authority to manage or co-manage issues of concern to the Noosa community on the Noosa River and is facing increasing criticism that it is not doing enough to manage the Noosa River.”

Noosa Council acting chief executive Larry Sengstock said adoption of the Noosa River Catchment Management Plan had been deferred to consider feedback from stakeholders.

“Council is yet to adopt the draft Noosa River Plan,” Mr Sengstock said.

“Council resolved at its September Ordinary Meeting to defer consideration of the draft plan and request feedback from key stakeholders.

“Staff are now collating that feedback, and it will be provided to councillors for consideration at a future council meeting.”