Andrew Mccarthy

ANDREW MCCARTHY Question 1. Having regard to the following commentary made by MSQ General Manager Mr Kell Dillon, appearing in Noosa Today on 10 May 2024: We are the state marine regulator, no one else is, and we intend to regulate the Noosa River through proper zoning and planning, recognising that it is an important resource for the state, and maximising its use for all people, not limiting it. Will the Noosa Council remove all references to vessel restrictions from the draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan and all other Council plans and documentation that exist both now and in the future? Response provided by Director Strategy & Environment, Kim Rawlings Management of the Noosa River involves a number of stakeholders working collaboratively to address complex issues that surround the environmental, cultural, commercial and recreational elements of the river. The river is a dynamic system where actions and impacts need to be considered in an interrelated manner, rather than in isolation. Examples of this include riparian vegetation impact and bank erosion caused by excessive boat wash, downstream public health issues from illegal waste discharge and altered flood regimes from increased system siltation from the upper catchment. Catchment Management requires collaboration and working together to manage interrelated issues. There are multiple agencies with varying responsibilities across the river, many of which have interrelationships with others both in terms of planning, regulation and management. Noosa Council will continue to have an advocacy, partnering and collaborative role with all key stakeholders to ensure the strategic goals of Council and the community as articulated in key strategies are considered by stakeholders and various agencies when making decisions and reviewing current activities. Council will continue to work closely with and have an advocacy role with MSQ to ensure there is safe and equitable access for all users of the river, whilst ensuring the environmental values of the river and catchment are maintained. Question 2. Mr Sengstock, it's been almost eight months since the October 2023 Draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan procedural motion requiring the Council to undertake full community and stakeholder consultation and report back with final and fully costed NRCMP in July 2024. We have seen no Community Consultation on the NRCMP. Does that mean the Noosa Council will ignore the October 2023 DNRCMP procedural motion in favour of Cr Stockwell's December 2023 notified motion Accelerated River Action? If so, what is the value of a Council procedural motion? Response provided by Director Strategy & Environment, Kim Rawlings Council have not ignored the motion from Council from October. The motion of October however unfortunately did not adequately take into account the impact of timing as a result of caretaker period, the election and induction of new Council, taking approximately 5-6 months collectively. As previously advised, Council staff have been working with the new Council as part of a comprehensive induction process to bring new Councillors up to speed across a large array of information and projects. The River Plan is but one of these issues amongst many our new Council is seeking to consider and determine a way forward on.