By JOLENE OGLE
NOOSA MP Glen Elmes said he wants to “set the record straight” on the promised removal of hulks from Noosa River, saying it was a chance the announcement coincided with the election campaign.
Last week, Mr Elmes announced $2 million would be used to fund the removal of rotting and unsightly house boats from the Noosa River, if he was re-elected.
Mr Elmes said, despite comments he had received since the announcement, he had been working on removing the boats from Noosa River since being elected to the seat of Noosa in 2006.
“Long-term residents will remember the previous Noosa Council put together the Noosa River Plan. As a result of successive Labor Governments, this plan was not supported and then virtually abandoned,” he said.
“One of the first things I did following my election in 2006 was try and resurrect it.”
Mr Elmes said that had been a “massive task” as no-one seemed to know who was responsible for the care of Noosa River.
“Marine Safety Queensland (MSQ) through the Department of Transport has responsibility for the safety aspect. The Departments of Environment and Heritage Protection, Natural Resources and Mines and Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry all have some level of jurisdiction over the river creating a cross-over of legislation for the various uses of the river but then, albeit in conjunction with these departments, the local council is the lead authority,” he said.
Following amalgamation, Mr Elmes said it was the community action plan, Clean Up Our River, organised by Mr Elmes, the editor of the now defunct Noosa Journal and Zinc 96.1 that saw a revitalisation of the push to rid the River of the vessels.
“Up to this point, Sunshine Coast Council was reluctant to accept that the hulks on the Noosa River were a problem but thanks to complaints from concerned constituents and the continuing groundswell of community action, I was able to get the issue back on the table,” he said.
“Then, despite further protraction, the Sunshine Coast Waterways Management Committee (SCWMC) was formed and actively went about addressing the many issues facing the Noosa River.
“The reverse then happened when Noosa de-amalgamated and the SCWMC was terminated.”
Mr Elmes said he and Noosa mayor Noel Playford have long planned to finally rid the river of the debris, but said they first needed to prove the boats were a risk to safety or were blocking a channel before action could be taken.
The cost of the removal was also raised as an issue.
“Depending on the size and condition of the vessel, the cost to remove it can range from approximately $20,000 to in excess of $100,000. As you would appreciate, this is a cost to the Queensland taxpayer. If you look at the number of boats on the Noosa River that fit the category of derelict or abandoned, you will realise the financial impact of such an exercise,” he said.
Mr Elmes said infrastructure damaged caused by a number of weather events throughout Queensland and “unprecedented debt” have been the main focus of spending until now.
“Fortunately, through sound financial management, funds began to build and my earlier requests for money to tackle the problems on the Noosa River were granted,” he said.
“The fact I was able to announce it through the election campaign is because it had been a major project on my ‘wish list’ for Noosa. The Noosa River Fund will be my project, funded by an LNP government.”
