77% of the 1655 respondents to the Noosa Shire LIveability Survey rated the natural environment
(natural features, views, vegetation, topography, water, wildlife)
as most important (2021) .
(natural features, views, vegetation, topography, water, wildlife)
as most important (2021) .
REFRESH FOR WORLD HERITAGE BID
In December I moved a motion to agree to relinquish Council’s trusteeship of the North Shore Landing Ground Reserve in order for the state government to honour its 1992 commitment to include the lot into the Cooloola National Park. The addition of 428 Hectares to the park will help demonstrate that the North Shore is an integral part of the Cooloola and Great Sandy bioregion and worthy of addition to the Fraser Island World Heritage Listing.
So what’s so special about this area?
- 406 ha (95%) is remnant regional ecosystem providing strong connectivity to the National Park
- 401 ha (94%) as recognised as essential for over a dozen endangered and vulnerable wildlife species
- 363ha (84.7%) is listed as High Ecological Significance Wetlands of which 308ha has critical habitat for the vulnerable Eastern
Ground Parrot
Ground Parrot
- 188ha (44%) is core koala habitat with an additional 191ha mapped in local habitat mapping.
The proposal aligns with Noosa’s planning scheme intent and the overall outcomes for the site’s Environmental Management and Conservation zoning under the Noosa Plan 2020. The plan provides for low impact outdoor sport and recreation activities where a demonstrated community need exists and such activities do not adversely affect the ecological values of the area.
It will now be up to the state government to negotiate with existing users of the landing ground. Including the use by emergency helicopters during bushfire events.
Eastern Beaches Ecosystem Values
- Six Beach Accesses
- Flagged, Patrolled Swimming Areas
- Pedestrian access to Noosa National Park
- Of Concern Biodiversity Status Regional Ecosystem (12.2.15)
- High Value Regrowth (12.2.14)
- High Ecological Value Wetlands
- Endangered or Vulnerable Wildlife
- Core Koala Habitat Area
- Very High Conservation Significance Riverine Wetlands
- Flagged, Patrolled Swimming Areas
- Pedestrian access to Noosa National Park
- Of Concern Biodiversity Status Regional Ecosystem (12.2.15)
- High Value Regrowth (12.2.14)
- High Ecological Value Wetlands
- Endangered or Vulnerable Wildlife
- Core Koala Habitat Area
- Very High Conservation Significance Riverine Wetlands
EASTERN BEACHES FORESHORE MANAGEMENT PLAN
One of my last initiatives as the then Chair of the Noosa Biosphere Environment Sector Board in 2014 was to hold a forum of all environment and community natural resource management groups in the shire to develop a set of priorities for the new Noosa Council. High amongst those was the development of a plan to address the threats of climate change and environmental degradation of our beaches.
In 2020 Council adopted the landmark Coastal Hazard Adaptation Plan (CHAP) and in November last year the draft Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan was adopted and will go out for public consultation in February. The last part of the regime will be the adoption of amendments to the Noosa Plan to address the risks identified in the CHAP.
In the eight years since the community identified coastal management as a priority the threats to beach ecosystems has significantly increased as a result of:
- High internal fragmentation and neighbour impacts
- Significant environmental weed infestations
- Vegetation clearing on steep slopes
- Erosion and pollution threats from roof water and stormwater
- High internal fragmentation and neighbour impacts
- Significant environmental weed infestations
- Vegetation clearing on steep slopes
- Erosion and pollution threats from roof water and stormwater
Encroachments into foreshore reserves are rife and include damaging vegetation, filling, dumping rubbish, yard extensions, private infrastructure and unauthorised planting. Over 90% of the neighbours sharing a boundary with the foreshore have created private yard extensions and private beach access in public land without approval.
I successfully moved an amendment to the staff recommended draft to include a new Natural Area Ranger Program to give Council greater capability to pursue these issues with a mix of educative compliance and enforcement; which has been sadly lacking for some years. I will continue to argue for zero tolerance.
