Noosa residents want the council to spend more time tackling coastal erosion and less time passing the buck.
A newly formed group, Eastern Beaches Protection Association (EBPA), wants Noosa Shire Council’s draft Coastal Hazard Adaption Plan (CHAP) to be better.
Spokeswoman Minna Knight says the current plan does nothing to protect the local environment and adversely impacts a number of communities at significant economic cost.
“There’s also a growing awareness that these planning changes won’t just affect the eastern beaches but will ultimately have to extend to homeowners in low lying areas in the future,” Ms Knight said.
“A growing number of locals are incensed that the plan, as drafted, proposes draconian measures on property owners but does nothing to save our coastline and waterways – that Council is trustee for.
“There’s a groundswell happening. More people are learning that the draft plan does absolutely nothing to protect our beaches, waterways and public land, but can still have a significant economic cost caused by Council proposing planning changes stopping people improving their homes.
“It’s ironic that Council has admitted the dunes are mostly stable, and in some areas they are growing. There is a less than one per cent probability of erosion significantly affecting private land by 2070. Exposing ratepayers to a massive financial cost now for nothing that actually protects beaches and a less than one per cent probability of a significant risk happening in 50-80 years is economically reckless.”
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the CHAP process had been instigated by the previous council and there were time constraints being imposed by the state government.
“This is very much a State Government driven process and Council has endeavoured to give the community as much time as possible to provide feedback, in fact, we have gone well beyond the mandated requirement,” she said.
Cr Stewart said council had met with the Eastern Beaches Protection Association in chambers and are determined to find a workable solution.
“We value the community’s input and will take onboard the concerns of all residents in developing the final document,” she said.
“It’s important that the community is aware that as far as land use regulation goes, the CHAP provides guidance but it’s the Planning Scheme that regulates development, which is an entirely separate process covered by the Planning Act.”
Cr Stewart said any future planning amendments that may be triggered will be considered by Council and would include further public consultation.
“I want to reassure residents that council would look “very closely“ at all submissions and take concerns and arguments on board in any future decision making,“ she said.
Ms Knight said the EBPA’s submission, supported by a range of professionals, identified significant technical shortfalls which show the draft plan wasn’t strong enough to support planning changes yet – if ever.
“Even on this flawed draft, we have plenty of time to monitor what might happen to private assets without being reckless right now. Council should now get on with actually protecting the public beaches and creeklines it is responsible for rather than passing the buck,” she said.
