By Phil Jarratt
The Queensland government last week announced its full plan to resolve boating issues on Noosa River and its linked waterways, designed to “increase safety and improve environmental impacts and the overall amenity of the river”.
The first stage of the reform plan, released last September, introduced new year-round six knot speed zones in the busiest parts of the river, as well as new anchoring restrictions. The second part, announced by Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish, details five further stages to be implemented over the next 15 months.
Hailed by long-term advocates for a safer, cleaner river as the delivery of the major reform recommendations of the now-disbanded Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee (NRSAC), the state’s plan is understood to have been fast-tracked by Mr Mellish, who took up the portfolio in December.
He said: “Maritime Safety Queensland is working hard to tackle the safety and pollution problems associated with the Noosa River. It is never acceptable for vessels to pose safety or pollution risks in our pristine waterways, so MSQ is commencing its suite of actions to responsibly manage those that do. Following that, the heavy usage and broad mix of users on the southern shore of the river makes managing this area a high safety priority.
“MSQ will then move on to implement further reforms in a staged approach to manage the problems on the river. Boaties and Noosa residents can expect to see MSQ’s officers on the water in the weeks and months ahead, educating boaties about the reforms, establishing navigation aids, assessing moorings and anchored and abandoned vessels, and enforcing safety rules. MSQ is conscious there are many vulnerable people who may be affected by these reforms, and will be working closely with them to ensure appropriate compliance with the new regulations to ensure their own and the public’s safety.”
Noosa’s independent MP Sandy Bolton commented:
“Our Noosa River is the beating heart of our community, bringing great joy to so many. However, as visitor numbers have increased over the last decade, so has the need for better management. This has been a long journey, and I thank all who have contributed including residents who gave feedback, members of NRSAC, and the teams from MSQ. Education and communication are vitally important over the coming months, and I ask our community to assist MSQ in these endeavours.”
Noosa Parks Association vice-president and member of the former NRSAC Dr Michael Gloster noted: “Bravo Minister Mellish, MSQ GM Kell Dillon and Sandy Bolton MP for delivering the most significant Noosa River reforms for over 40 years.”
The next steps of Maritime Services Queensland’s Noosa River reforms will be implemented in stages over the next 15 months, including the issuing of ‘notices to comply’, removal of derelict or abandoned vessels and the establishment of further ‘no anchoring zones’.
A spokesman said: “MSQ is committed to supporting the community while these reforms are put in place. Vulnerable community members will be supported through relevant agencies and outreach programs.”
Following extensive stakeholder and community consultation since 2021, MSQ is continuing to implement a suite of marine safety and pollution reforms for the Noosa River that commenced in September 2023. The first stage saw a series of speed limitations introduced on the river. According to MSQ, these were very successful, with good feedback from the community over the summer months. [See Kell Dillon interview below.]
Stage 2 of the reform process will include the issuing of ‘notices to comply’ to owners of vessels that were identified as non-compliant in audits MSQ completed in the leadup to implementing the reforms.
In Stage 3, vessels that do not comply, or that are unseaworthy and abandoned, will be required to be removed from the river between May and August 2024.
Stage 4 of the program, commencing in July 2024, will see ‘no anchoring’ areas established for all vessels and applied to:
• 60m from the busy southern shore of Noosa River from Noosa Sound to the entrance to Lake Doonella
• across Noosa Sound and up to Woods Bay
• the Dog Beach area, south of the river entrance.
Vessels will be able to access the shoreline to set down and pick up passengers or to access restaurants and other popular areas on land, as long as they comply with the speed limits for this area, and do not anchor or cause obstructions or navigation hazards to other waterway users.
Stage 5, starting in October 2024, will see MSQ create a ‘no anchoring’ area for unoccupied vessels over five metres in length, for a host of safety reasons.
The final Stage 6 will see a 28-day anchoring restriction introduced for Noosa waterways, commencing in March 2025, with a designated implementation period for vessel owners to comply by June 2025.
Education and communication with the public is a priority for MSQ as the process of implementing the reforms is progressed. The changes are being introduced after MSQ undertook a consultative approach to address community concerns regarding safety, amenity and pollution of Noosa River. This included the formation of a stakeholder advisory group (NRSAC).
The NRSAC was co-chaired by MSQ and Noosa Shire Council and involved a broad range of community and business stakeholders who worked to provide recommendations for proposed reforms to improve management of the river. MSQ took an agreed program of initiatives to formal public consultation between December 2022 and February 2023, and specifically sought feedback on the proposed anchoring and speed limit changes for the river.
A 6 knots speed limit was introduced for the most heavily-used southern shores of the river in September 2023, and MSQ received positive community feedback on this first stage of the Noosa River safety initiatives.
