The Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee has proposed a suite of anchoring, mooring and live-aboard controls for Maritime Safety Queensland’s consideration.
NRSAC spokesman Nick Hluszko said anchoring and mooring caps, and time limits were used effectively elsewhere in Queensland to tackle overcrowding.
“Pleasingly, much of what we’re proposing is able to be covered under existing Queensland maritime safety and waterways management legislation,” he said.
“As we all have witnessed, an increasingly overcrowded and misused river system has seen a growing public outcry to have the river cleaned up and much better managed.
“The recent provision of full-time MSQ staff resources here has already seen positive outcomes in this area which the NRSAC recognises, appreciates and supports.”
Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager, Angus Mitchell, welcomed NRSAC’s suggested proposals.
“We’ll take some time to work through the proposal with the committee and Noosa Council,” Mr Mitchell said.
“As part of our work and reviewing what the proposals mean for the community, broad and extensive community engagement will, of course, need to be undertaken and to ensure the community has an opportunity to have a say.”
Mr Hluszko said NRSAC welcomed Maritime Safety Queensland’s active interest in investigating anchoring, mooring and live-aboard controls.
“MSQ General Manager, Angus Mitchell, expressed positive support for the principles of these recommendations and committed to take them away for thorough assessment by MSQ with other State departments.”
Mr Mitchell and Noosa Council CEO Brett de Chastel, who co-chaired the NRSAC meeting, thanked the committee members for their ongoing work.
“The Stakeholder Advisory Committee has done a terrific job of working through their represented groups and local community concerns about the river and suggesting a set of proposals which the committee can continue to refine through extensive community consultation and with MSQ and Council,” Mr de Chastel said.
Council and Maritime Safety Queensland established the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee as a way for key community members to provide objective advice and recommendations towards the management and sustainable use of the Noosa River and its catchment.
