Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie has confirmed further consultation will occur on the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan, after all feedback has been carefully considered.
“All ideas are draft proposals for comment, we are listening, and we will carefully consider what we’ve been told so far,” Cr Wilkie said.
At Thursday’s Ordinary Meeting, councillors acknowledged more time was required to review the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan and the draft Noosa River Plan. Both have generated significant community interest.
“We all love our Noosaville foreshore and river and councillors and staff members, are listening and carefully considering the feedback in good faith,” Cr Wilkie said.
Council received 2191 responses to the Your Say Noosa online survey and 222 written submissions during the second phase of engagement on the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan.
“Our staff need time to analyse the data, review the feedback and ensure they accurately capture the community’s views,” Cr Wilkie said.
Some of the feedback relates to the proposed Noosa River Plan, so Council will use the time to understand and factor that into any review of the River Plan.
Cr Wilkie said the Foreshore Masterplan was a long-term blueprint for addressing issues over the next 20 years.
“The full content of this plan will not be delivered tomorrow or even next year, so it’s important to get it right and develop a plan that protects and improves this incredible community space.”
Cr Wilkie said Council will take the time to understand what the community has said and work with key interest groups and revise the masterplan.
“What we heard from the community is that they want ongoing maintenance of equipment, furniture and parkland. Scheduled work will continue as planned on the foreshore, including replacing ageing fitness equipment, which will take place next month.
“In the first phase of consultation last year, the community identified improved access, upgraded all-abilities playgrounds, safer pathways and improved furniture as clear priorities along with how we better deal with the challenges such as floods, erosion and other significant weather events,” Cr Wilkie said.
The Noosa River Plan was due to come back before Council in July this year, but due to community feedback during the Foreshore masterplan consultation, and other recent developments with the river, Cr Wilkie said it made sense to revise the plan.
“A lot has happened since the river plan last came before council – some of the foreshore masterplan feedback has implications for the river, plus we’re now a formal member of the Resilient Rivers Initiative.
“This is a SEQ Council of Mayors program to plan for and invest in waterways and catchments in south-east Queensland. Maritime Safety Queensland has also committed to a raft of actions that may resolve some of the issues the draft river plan sought to tackle,” he said.
“The Resilient River Initiative provides opportunities for Council to access support and funding to refresh, review and simplify our River Plan to align with a new Catchment Action plan guideline and is an approach that all councils in south-east Queensland will adopt,” Cr Wilkie said.
“This will allow Council officers to engage with all river stakeholders in a review of the river plan and refresh process,” the Mayor said.
Cr Wilkie said the strong interest in these plans is helpful and a sign of a healthy, engaged community.
