The overdue response from the Sustainable Visitor Capacity Management Study (SVCMS) and draft Cooloola Recreation Area (CRA) Management Plan, were released earlier this year.
The Teewah Cooloola Working Group (TCWG)’s submission to the CRA Management Plan consultation resulted in some community questions and confusion.
Noosa’s Independent Member of Parliament, Sandy Bolton MP, who is separate to Noosa Council, has provided an update as well.
Submissions on behalf of the TCWG, could only include points agreed upon by all members, who were also encouraged to lodge their own submissions to ensure their individual as well views of their
memberships/constituents were also represented.
“The TCWG has been in operation since 2018 and comprises members from two different Councils (Noosa and Gympie), two State MPs (again Noosa and Gympie), and various other stakeholders including resident, environmental, business and tourism groups,” Ms Bolton said.
The larger portion of the CRA, including all the camping areas at both Teewah and Rainbow Beach, are within the Shire and Electorate of Gympie. However, Noosa Shire and Electorate are also major
stakeholders as some of the CRA is within Noosa and is one of the two access points to the area via the ferry in Tewantin.
Teewah Village borders the CRA within Noosa, and resources from Noosa, including emergency services, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers/rangers, environmental group volunteers, wildlife rescuers, and Noosa Council staff are frequently used to manage or respond to issues and events within the Cooloola/Teewah area.
“Given the confidentiality of these meetings, I am unable to give specifics on what items raised were not agreed upon by all members, however, our office compiled feedback received from residents and also from Noosa members which we reflected in our own submission to the Minister, separate to that from the TCWG,” Ms Bolton said.
Some matters raised with Sandy’s office and during TCWG meetings were not in the remit of the CRA Management Plan, rather local councils, or other State Government Departments. These were not included as part of the submission for that reason; however, these have been communicated to the relevant authorities.
“We have also requested a response to feedback for those stakeholders who participated, given the longstanding efforts of the Noosa Electorate and Shire to achieve better environment and amenity outcomes for this area, and we will continue to update as more information becomes available,” Ms Bolton said.
Ms Bolton has posted the points covered in her submission on Noosa 360 at SandyBolton.com/Noosa360, which also has updates on many other matters she is working on.
