By Margaret Maccoll
Construction of a replacement Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) shed being built by the State Government in Russell Street, Noosaville, has been halted by Noosa Council.
A council spokeswoman said the council only became aware of the proposed shed when complaints were received from residents.
Neighbours living opposite said the two-storey building blocked their views, caused glaring from the sun and was not consistent with surrounding buildings.
A council spokeswoman said it had received advice from the State Government that the shed required development approval from the council and was subject to the Noosa Plan.
“Council officers met last week with officers from the Department of Housing and Public Works, who are overseeing the project, to review the plans for the shed,” the council spokeswoman said.
“The department has been advised that, based on the information council has received to date, they should cease works and make an application for the Boating and Fisheries Patrol shed.
“The application will be required to be publicly notified for comment from the community.”
Noosa MP Glen Elmes said the building showed “little or no regard for due process nor has any interest in the community of Noosa and what it values most – its natural assets”.
“No consultation with the community, with local residents and no contact at all with Noosa Council,” he said.
“This building resembles a warehouse, contravenes the Noosa Plan and is completely out of character with the Noosa River Foreshore,” he said.
Mr Elmes said he could not fathom why this building needed to be so big when he was told in 2016 by then Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Bill Byrne that QBFP conducted just one patrol of the Noosa River a fortnight.
Noosa Labor candidate Mark Denham said the shed was required to replace an old shed built in the 1960s that was in “a bad state of repair”.
“The replacement needed to meet the current and into the future requirements for the fisheries officers,” he said.
“This also needed assist in the operation of their equipment in an environmentally safe manner and be able to fit the right size vessel for the protection of this pristine area.”
Mr Denham suggested the issue of sun reflection “was possibly caused by the removal of some trees”.
