By Leigh McCready, Noosa councillor candidate
Most Noosa residents would be unaware that the Queensland Government has a Boating Infrastructure Fund worth millions of dollars.
The same residents would no doubt be horrified to learn that Noosa Council has not made a grant request to access this pot of money for 30 years save for a small amount spent on replace the Noosaville and Tewantin concrete ramps and a floating walkway being added in Noosaville. Council has not spent any of its own money updating boat ramps for thirty years despite the increasing number of boating-owning residents.
In fact, in recent times, the fund has contained up to $140 million that could be used to improve boating infrastructure for Noosa but the current and previous councils have failed to act.
The fund continues to grow from registration fees on boats and trailers with Noosa boat owners contributing $1 million annually to the fund. Why then is it not being used to improve boating facilities for these same residents?
A recent study delivered to Noosa Council identified that the Noosa Shire has the highest per capita registration of small vessels in south-east Queensland (4688 small vessels) and the second highest registration of trailer able vessels in SE QLD. It also identified numerous shortfalls in facilities at several sites along the Noosa River.
Despite this study, the current Council has already rejected outright a project proposed to improve access to the river via a boat ramp at Chaplin Park.
If elected to Council on 16 March, I will work to access this much needed funding to improve the existing boating infrastructure for all residents to ensure that boat owners access world class boating facilities. A Maritime Safety Queensland Study reported that Noosa has 5.75 effective boat ramp lanes but needs a minimum of nine lanes. That’s 41 per cent shortfall on our capacity, the largest in the state with the average shortage in QLD sitting at 18 per cent.
I urge all residents to contact me if they have questions or stories about boating on the Noosa River and how I will work as your councillor to access much needed funding to bring the facilities up to an acceptable standard.
