Staff shortages have led Noosa Council to postpone the initiation of a foreshore management plan at Lake Doonella, despite concerns raised by residents over foreshore issues, Council’s general meeting on Monday heard.
The meeting was told Council had been approached by two community groups on several issues, including clarity on access to a section of Lake Doonella foreshore, particularly between Shields and Doonella streets, and a report was created in response.
The issue has been compounded by council’s Noosa Cycling and Walking Strategy implementation plan 2020-2040 that indicates a network through that location, an officer said.
Investigations by council’s environment officer found local representations had been diverse, ranging from seeking clarity about tenure and ownership to addressing concerns over the condition of native and exotic vegetation, damage to native and exotic plants, misuse of the foreshore, and existing and proposed access infrastructure in the foreshore.
Many of the requests directly conflicted with each other. For instance, one resident was seeking to entirely prevent access to the foreshore behind their residence, while another group seeks a public path through the same area, the report found. In addition, some residents were seeking to improve views by reducing vegetation, whereas others would like to regenerate and revegetate.
The report states: “preliminary investigations revealed a similar level of confusion and potential for conflicting objectives among potential and actual land managers and landowners in the Shields St – Memorial Ave area, including private landholders, the Council and State Government. It is noted that the area has complex tenure arrangements, including a mix of freehold lots held by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, various forms of reserves with Council as Trustee and lack of clarity about the extent of private property and whether it extends to the high-water mark, or extends to the cadastral boundary as shown on maps and registered plans. In addition, infrastructure such as sewer lines and private yard encroachments extend into the Lake Doonella foreshore. The area also has significant biodiversity and environmental values of foreshores and wetlands, with some in good condition, but significant sections requiring restoration.”
The report recommended Council create a foreshore plan for the entire lake that investigateds tenure, ecology, access, recreational areas and costs and guided the management of the area.
The officer said the methodology for the foreshore plan would replicate the Eastern Beaches Foreshore plan, but they didn’t have the staff to carry out both, and findings would differ.
Cr Brian Stockwell recommended the matter be referred to the 2022-23 budget process for assessment with the Eastern Beaches plan being a higher priority.
But Cr Amelia Lorentson said residents may disagree there was no urgency.
Cr Karen Finzel asked if something could be done in the short term, saying issues had been raised about the area for the past 11 years.
The officer said it was a complex issue involving hundreds of properties around the foreshore and once the plan was begun, with research and consultation, he estimated it would take between 6-12 months to complete.
Acting chief executive officer Larry Sengstock said council departments had been conducting work at the site to address community concerns with information provided to affected landowners in a letter sent to them following a meeting between council officers and residents.
Mr Sengstock said public stairs in Shields Street were repaired, a stormwater drain in Werin Street had been assessed with work options put forward, surveyors had been working on identifying property boundaries and rubbish would be removed.
A decision on the Lake Doonella Foreshore Plan was to be made at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Thursday evening.
