Noosa councillor Amelia Lorentson
In the September meetings, I will move a notified motion to propose a Remote Rescue Tubes/Liferings trial at unpatrolled beaches.
This initiative is designed to reduce the risk of drowning incidents in unpatrolled areas or during out-of-hours periods by providing self-service rescue devices and remote supervision.
Our lifeguards first brought this idea to my attention over two years ago.
I raised it with Noosa World Surfing Reserve (NWSR), who championed it and made it part of their safety remit initiatives. Ideally, these rescue tubes would be installed between Tea Tree Bay and Alexandria Bay, areas identified by local surfers as hazardous.
While Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) conducted a safety audit, after two years, they deemed it not a high priority.
However, the local community sees things differently, especially with two near-drowning incidents at North Sunshine Beach and A Bay in the past year. This makes the initiative (imo) a high priority for Noosa.
There’s a saying, “There are many ways to skin a cat.“
As the trustees of our open beaches, council can manage and monitor the trial independently of SLSQ. After the trial, we will collaborate with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and SLSQ to assess the outcomes and consider extending the trial to other high-risk areas, including Tea Tree Bay and A Bay.
Rescue tubes and life rings are widely used across Australia, Europe, and the United States, yet Queensland lags in adopting these life-saving devices. Coffs Harbour’s successful remote rescue tube project offers a valuable model, as do similar programs in Hawaii, New Zealand, and Denmark. These devices have been proven to prevent drownings.
Local organizations strongly support this initiative, including NWSR, Noosa Boardriders Club, NSCA, NBFA, and Noosa Malibu Club.
Given the recent near-drowning incidents, this trial could be vital in enhancing water safety. Noosa Council has the opportunity to lead in implementing this cost-effective, community-supported solution to prevent future tragedies.
A final decision on this matter has yet to be made, so please follow me on my Facebook page (Amelia4Noosa) for updates.
Revised Standing Orders and Policies:
Proposed changes to Council’s standing orders and meeting procedures were also a major topic of discussion during September’s meetings, raising significant community concerns. I want to explain why this issue matters, what I said in the meeting, and why I proposed an alternate motion to the staff recommendation.
The current standing orders for Notified Motions and Deputations align with the Local Government Act 2009, supporting democratic representation, transparency, and community engagement—principles that allow councillors to act in the public’s best interest.
However, the proposed changes threaten these core principles.
In the meeting, I raised a critical question: What problem are we trying to solve, and who or what are we trying to stop? I pointed out that the current system has worked well for years.
For instance, I brought forward two significant motions on the Burgess Creek Catchment without issue last year. But this term, after I submitted three Notified Motions – on shark nets and drumlines, an extension to the consultation period for Noosa Plan Amendments, and the trial of rescue tubes on remote beaches—we’re seeing efforts to restrict them.
Is the issue with me or the precedent of using Notified Motions to represent community concerns?
The fight here is about safeguarding the democratic rights of all councillors and the community we serve. Limiting deputations and reducing their frequency weakens the public’s ability to engage in decisions directly impacting them. Public input is a cornerstone of democracy, and reducing deputation time is (IMO) an unjustified attack on residents’ rights.
As elected representatives, it is our responsibility to protect the democratic right to bring forward notified motions and ensure that deputations remain a transparent and accessible platform for public participation. I am not prepared to lose those rights and this fight for our residents.
A final decision on this matter has yet to be made.
Please follow me on my Facebook page (Amelia4Noosa) for the latest updates.
(This is my personal opinion and does not represent the position of council.)
