By JONATHON HOWARD
EROSION is eating away the banks of the Noosa River, between Tewantin and the river mouth, and Noosa Council is considering whether to invest in advanced hydrodynamic modelling to stem the problem.
The matter was raised during council’s infrastructure and services committee meeting on Tuesday 16 September.
Councillors were asked to vote whether to request a detailed assessment for the development of hydrodynamic model for the Noosa River be prepared for consideration by council at the next budget review.
The council’s recommendation also outlined a tidal works application be submitted to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection for the trialling of geotextile sandbag groynes at Noosa River Holiday Park located at Munna Point.
According to council reports, there have been ongoing erosion issues with the Noosa River affecting infrastructure assets and public lands, particularly around the lower estuary.
“These instances have been a result of naturally changing fast flowing river channels, boat wash and flooding events among other potential causes,” the report states.
“Council has responded to these issues in the past as emergency works including sand pumping, placement of geo-fabric sandbags, construction of rock-walls etc.
“The latest instance of erosion is impacting on Munna Point and some low impact steps have been taken to try and mitigate further erosion on the site.”
During a stakeholder meeting on 26 August, it was revealed that carrying out a comprehensive hydrodynamic model of the river system including contour detection and flow rates would cost about $250,000 to $300,000, plus a further $50,000 to 70,000 to recalibrate the model every five to seven years.
Council concluded that all stakeholders were supportive of the concept of developing a hydrodynamic model for the Noosa River between Tewantin and the river mouth.
“Therefore, further detailed assessment of a project needs to be undertaken in order to present a proposal for council consideration at the next budget review,” the recommendation states.
