By Margaret Maccoll
It was another lengthy deliberation when Noosa Councillors decided on the draft terms of reference for the joint Noosa Council and Maritime Safety Queensland Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee at their Ordinary Meeting last week but in the end all bar Cr Brian Stockwell voted for a less prescriptive option and the majority ruled.
The purpose of the committee, outlined by the terms of reference, was to engage key community stakeholders to provide objective advice and recommendations towards the sustainable
use, conservation and management of the Noosa River and its catchment. It is an advisory not decision making body.
Councillors voted to increase the number of committee members from 10 to 12, appoint Cr Clare Stewart to be an observer at committee meetings, request Council’s CEO to report in March on the proposed committee membership and request, with MSQ agreement, to hold the first committee meeting within one month of finalising membership.
Council also acknowledged and welcomed the permanent presence of MSQ in Noosa and resolved that while MSQ maintains an active presence, Noosing Council would no longer seek to take over management of anchoring, mooring and living on board on the Noosa River.
After the long discussions on the terms of reference Councillors also voted on the terms of reference to be reviewed by the committee at its first meeting.
“We all have the river’s best interests at heart. We may not all agree on how to get there,“ Cr Stewart said.
“We are all in agreement we need meaningful input from stakeholders and need it sooner rather than later.“
Cr Brian Stockwell told the meeting it was disappointing that a group put together to provide input into the river plan and oyster restoration project would not adequately reflect the terms of reference and would be biased toward a certain element.
But Cr Frank Wilkie said he was confident the committee would provide as it was intended and both Cr Stewart and Lorentson agreed to “trust the process“.
Council’s environment services manager Craig Doolan said an Expressions of Interest would be put out to the community to obtain members who met two key criteria.
Potential committee members need to have a knowledge and expertise of management issues associated with the Noosa River and its catchment and have an ability to represent community interests and communicate to as many members as possible in identified community sectors, Mr Doolan said.
Members are expected to come from river user sectors and groups including commercial and recreational fishing, commercial and recreational boating, conservation and natural reserve management, commercial operators on the river, tourism, and traditional owners.
