By Margaret Maccoll
One Noosa Councillor alone did not support a Noosa Council motion passed on Monday to invest $1.2 million into a partnership with non-government organisation the Nature Conservancy to fund a second phase of the Noosa River oyster restoration project before the results of the three year pilot project have been completed.
Cr Ingrid Jackson questioned whether the community had been consulted on the investment and whether the project should take priority over other projects including the erosion of Dog Beach and the Noosa TAFE.
Council heard the Nature Conservancy had approached Council with an opportunity to partner with them on a dollar for dollar investment of $1.2m which had been provided by The Thomas Foundation through The Nature Conservancy, while a third $1.2m investment would be sought elsewhere to enable expansion of oyster reef siting in the river.
“I have no doubt the Nature Conservancy is a reputable non-government organisation but when it comes to such a lot of ratepayers money Council should not be making adhoc decisions but should start by clearly defining priorities and the pathways to achieve them ,” Cr Jackson said.
Cr Jackson questioned whether it was the best use of the environmental levy funds which Cr Frank Wilkie said collected $1.8m annually.
“This proposal does not address three core issues: whether we need the project; what an independent evaluation of it would reveal; and the opportunity cost of this money weighed against funding other priorities in the Shire,” she said.
“It’s not clear why this Bring Back the Fish project should be a priority.”
In December 2017 a University of the Sunshine Coast research team headed by Professor Thomas Schlacher and including marine ecologist Dr Ben Gilby sited 14 oyster reef, each containing nine biodegradable coconut mesh bags filled with oyster shells in Noosa River.
Dr Gilby said the oysters would improve the river’s biodiversity by filtering the water and providing food and habitat for fish and other invertebrates. Noosa Council invested $1.5m in the initial project.
Mayor Tony Wellington described the Nature Conservancy as global experts in the area with a track record as the world’s most trusted NGO whose value as a partner could provide Noosa with far-reaching benefits, networks and knowledge.
“This is a massive opportunity – too good to pass up,” he said. All other councillors apart from Cr Jackson backed the partnership.
Fisherman Trevor Clarey said he was disappointed at Council’s recommendation to support the $1.2m investment when there was no evidence from the pilot project to support it.
He questioned whether it was needed after Monday’s Council meeting heard Noosa had last week been named one of the Top 10 fishing spots in Australia.
The matter will be raised at Council’s Ordinary meeting on Thursday.
