By Margaret Maccoll
Noosa Council and Maritime Safety Queensland selected 12 out of 20 applicants to be part of a Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group (NRSRG) with Council adding the two highest scoring shortlisted women, Agnes Reed and Jo-Anne Daley, to the list, a move still to be agreed upon by MSQ, to increase female representation on the committee to three.
The advisory group was set up “to provide strategic input, local knowledge and expertise into river management initiatives, initially providing put into the shellfish restoration project and more broadly into finalisation and implementation of the Noosa River Plan“.
Councillors queried aspects of the selection process at its Ordinary Meeting last Thursday night.
Cr Amelia Lorentson asked why several individuals submitting together were not accepted as a group. She also asked about two names that stood out, fisherman Trevor Clary and Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club Commodore Grenville Snowden, both well respected in the community and a depth of knowledge had not been included.A Council officer said there was not one applicant that did not have the experience to be on the committee.
He said the selection process was determined by an agreed terms of reference which called for a range of river user sectors to be engaged, ensuring representation from all key sectors, a limited size to allow it to remain focused and the ability of the applicants to represent significant sector of the Noosa community.
Applicants were determined on them meeting two criteria to describe their knowledge and experience with regard to management issues of the Noosa River and to describe their links to their stakeholder group and the way they would bring the views of the group to NRSRG.
The officer said under the terms of reference the applicants could only be assessed as individuals and only on the information provided to them.
He said applicants not selected to NRSRG would have the opportunity to be part of sub-committees to give advice on relevant issues.
There has not been a community group representing the river since the Community and Industry Advisory Committee (CIAC) ended in 2012.
Cr Joe Jurisevic said there was a depth and breadth of knowledge in the group and all sectors were represented.
“One of the benefits of this type of consultative group for the Noosa River is that the stakeholders, while diverse, are all fundamentally interested in the same thing – a healthy, biodiverse and clean river that sustainably supports the environmental, social and economic needs of our community,“ Council’s officer said. “If there is good will and a cooperative approach to this Committee, the opportunity to make positive change on the Noosa River is very strong.“
The committee’s selected nominees were Ben Broadfoot, Bruce Davidson, Michael Gloster, Jane Harris, Nick Hluszko, Richard Howard, Peter Hunnam, Chris Massoud, Phil Moran, Noel Playford, Lachlan Stevens and David Stielow along with Agnes Reed and Jo-Anne Daley.
The remaining eight nominees were Trevor Clarey, Gwen Gilson, Brian Kennedy, Grenville Snowdon, Jason Styles and Mark Wacker
