“Crazy”, “bizarre” and “unbelievable” is the way beach goers this week described a set of stairs recently built by Noosa Council to access Marcus Beach at entrance 42.
“We need a bridge,” said one woman as she carried her dog across the creek separating the stairs and the beach. Others carried small children across where the creek narrows about 20m south of the base of the staircase.
When Noosa Today visited the area the tea-tree bark-stained water was deep enough to allow a cocker spaniel to swim through but too darkly stained to see any obstacles lurking beneath.
The extensive staircase provides the only access to the beach at that entrance point.
Noosa Council Infrastructure Planning and Design manager Carl Billingham said Noosa’s eastern beaches were dynamic systems and the contour of the dunes changed in response to the seasonal weather systems.
“Similarly, the flowpath of Castaways Creek, which is the outlet point of the groundwater table, also changes over time. Council cannot do work on the beachfront without permission from the state.
Last year, council contacted the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to discuss the possibility of realigning the creek away from the beach access point, in order to improve access and protect surrounding vegetation on the dunes from damage,“ Mr Billingham said.
“The department didn’t support a realignment of the creek as the area is mapped as a significant habitat for endangered, vulnerable and near-threatened species. The department was also concerned that interfering with the creek could impact the hydrology of the upstream groundwater dependent wetlands.
“The creek is currently deeper than usual due to rainfall from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie. The water level fluctuates, and has at times dried up completely, making it easier to access the beach.
“As an alternative to beach access 42, particularly when the creek water level is high, residents can make use of the other beach access points nearby,“ he said.
Waterfront weddings
In Queensland, it is an offence to drink alcohol or possess an opened alcoholic drink in a public place.
But on any given weekend, beach-goers and picnickers can be seen having a wine or a beer in parks and along the waterfront.
Should public drinking legislation be relaxed to reflect general public behaviour?
Former Hastings Street Association president John Little believes it should be relaxed on public land such as the area by Noosa River in front of the Waterfront Restaurant.
John said wedding guests had strayed from the restaurant to the river in an area little used by the public with a glass in hand for decades and there was no need to stop them.
He believes a heavy-handed approach may have repercussions for the wedding industry which brings much money and employment to the area. “Weddings are a big part of Noosa, they should be encouraging it,” he said.
Last week Mayor Tony Wellington said there were 430 weddings in Noosa annually while a Noosa celebrant said the number was way much higher at 45 weddings a week.
