By Margaret Maccoll
A council majority of 4-3 approved the Noosa River Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project’s second annual report last Thursday.
However, Council chief executive Brett De Chastel confirmed its approval would not meet the criteria for a council funding payment which would require the project’s state government approval.
Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie told council Ordinary Meeting last Thursday the benefits of the project had attracted far reaching attention and funding from the federal government and the Thomas Foundation to the tune of $1.2 million each, matching council’s $1.2 million contribution.
He described the restoration project as a restoration of habitat for marine creatures that was not dissimilar to the planting of trees that regularly occurred in land habitat restoration. “We’re very lucky to have this opportunity. We’re going to learn a lot from it,“ he said.
As custodians of the Noosa Biosphere it’s incumbent on the council to take every opportunity to use science and fact-based well researched projects working with reputable organisations to improve the environment, he said.
“We can’t profess to be backing science, fact-based projects then oppose a project like this that so clearly offers the potential of environmental enhancement, environmental benefits,“ he said.
Cr Karen Finzel questioned the link between approving the annual report and a council milestone payment of $200,000 with council notes indicating the report met the requirements of the funding agreement.
Mayor Clare Stewart did not accept the correlation between tree planting rehabilitation projects and the oyster restoration, saying the former did not require state development permits.
She said the project’s KPIs continued to be put back with state approvals initially expected in July 2020 still not obtained 15 months later while pending project payments of $750,000 of ratepayers money, which Cr Joe Jurisevic pointed out came from the Environment Levy, remained quarantined.
“We can’t do anything without state permits,“ she said.
