Margie Maccoll
A ‘no anchoring zone’ imposed on the Noosa River 60m from the southern shoreline together with a trial allowing compliant and seaworthy vessels under 5m to anchor in the zone to access shops, services or engage in recreational activities has led river users to voice their concerns to Noosa MP Sandy Bolton.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) officers say the new restrictions primarily affect vessels over 5m, which are no longer allowed to anchor within a distance of 60 metres from the shore or be grounded on the shoreline in the area from Lake Doonella to the Garth Prowd Bridge.
Further anchoring restrictions are planned for Woods Bay and Little Woods Bay as part of the progressive Noosa River waterway reforms and additional navigation aids are being installed to better mark the navigation corridor for safer boating, MSQ state.
Ms Bolton said feedback she received from river users has been provided to MSQ and they have provided assurance that those genuinely engaging in recreational activities and accessing shops and services, regardless of size, are not being targeted as the changes are to see an end to those who have been doing the ‘wrong thing’ and ‘parking up’ permanently in these zones.
MSQ advise that education, empathy and communication with the community is a priority, as well as assisting vulnerable residents.
“From the beginning, we have reiterated the importance of providing supports for our residents experiencing hardship that may be impacted by these changes, and I again thank the MSQ project team who are working hard to make this transition as smooth as possible,” Ms Bolton said.
In the past month Ms Bolton has requested MSQ provide an analysis of existing registered mooring areas and for the results from MSQ’s consultation.
For our liveaboard residents, although it’s never been lawful to do so, it was a priority to ensure that no one would be put at risk of homelessness through the rollout of enforcement and she has been assured that for anyone that has been identified as vulnerable, supports are being provided, she said.
“MSQ is focused on ensuring that vessels do not pose safety or pollution risks in the waterway, and that anchorage restrictions are part of a suite of actions to responsibly manage those that do,” MSQ general manager Kell Dillon said.
“We are aware that there are vulnerable people who may be affected by these reforms, and MSQ will be working closely with them as the new regulations come into effect.
“Education and communication with the community is a priority as the process of implementing the reforms is progressed.”
MSQ has established a dedicated four-person team to implement the Noosa River waterway management plan.
Officers have been actively contacting the owners of vessels within the no anchoring area so they could relocate prior to the start of the restriction and recommend that owners not wait to be contacted and take steps to ensure they are compliant.
As part of the reforms, MSQ will be working to remove vessels assessed as derelict or abandoned.
Members of the public are reminded that if they have a vessel or structure currently stored on the river and MSQ cannot identify an owner, it may be considered abandoned and ultimately removed by MSQ.
If MSQ officers place a notice on your vessel it is important that you contact MSQ as required or your vessel can be seized, removed and disposed of.
Ms Bolton said after two or more decades of our community being frustrated by the poor management of the river, it was an enormous commitment of State Government to acknowledge they needed to do better and commit to a course of action and deliver.
“This was a journey of some six years in total – three years from the start of advocacy to the formation of the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and then another three years until the final management changes and timeline were announced,” she said.
“As the community have requested, the shoreline needed to be addressed and that is what is currently underway, and and I thank again everyone who has notified of any issues or concerns.”
Noosa Boating and Fishing Alliance spokesman Andrew McCarthy said members had raised concerns with the new restrictions indicating if your boat is over 5m you won’t be able to land, go for coffee or a paddle over the side, but we understand they won’t be targeting recreational day users.
“We support the objective to reduce the present congestion and free up the river. If they don’t target recreational day users we support that,” he said.
“We’ll never support a situation where members have (for example) got a 6m boat and have to park 60m from the shore and take a dinghy in to get a coffee.”
The big challenge is how do you deliver what the community want – reduce congestion and eliminate the liveaboard problem that exists, he said.
The new anchoring restrictions from 15 July include:
Vessels 5m or less, including tenders, will be able to anchor within the restricted area, in order to access shops, services or engage in recreational activities. These vessels are required to comply with all other safety and marine pollution requirements.
Vessels over 5m may access the shoreline to set down and pick up passengers, but are not permitted to anchor or ground.
This zone largely reflects the same area where a speed restriction of 6 knots was introduced in September 2023, with the objective of enhancing safety for everyone using the waterway.
All vessels must comply with the speed limits for this area and not cause obstructions or navigation hazards to other waterway users.
To contact the MSQ team email sunshinecoast.maritime@msq.qld.gov.au or msqnoosa@tmr.qld.gov.au.
Information will be posted to sandybolton.com/noosa360 or for an individual response email Ms Bolton on noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
