By JOLENE OGLE
HAVE we loved the Noosa River to death?
That’s the question posed by Noosa Residents and Ratepayers president Brian Stockwell as he leads a campaign to address issues threatening Noosa’s most famous asset.
Mr Stockwell will chair a community forum tonight (Thursday) at the Noosa Boathouse Restaurant from 6.15pm.
The main focus will be the future of the Noosa River, what is happening with the boats on the river and what action council and the State Government are taking to ensure the health of the waterways.
Mr Stockwell said he believed the Noosa River could be “saved” so long as the community continued to play an active part in its management.
“Our aim for the forum is to get renewed community momentum in a campaign calling on government at all levels to take integrated management action to protect the river’s character and integrity,” he said.
Mr Stockwell said representatives from all key community and industry groups looking after the health, safety, recreational and economic opportunities in and around the river would attend the forum.
The community forum comes as Noosa Council confirms the Noosa River will be the second topic for the Community Jury to consider.
“Hopefully (the forum) will provide context for council’s recently announced (community) jury on the topic,” Mr Stockwell said.
“The jury will no doubt look at council’s role in river management, but our forum will look at what action we want all levels of government and community to get involved in now – not six months down the track.”
Former Noosa councillor and local business owner Bob Jarvis has also joined the fight for Noosa River launching a publication named The Noosa River, which he says is the result of locals calling for action.
“I have been contacted over the past 14 months by a large number of locals who are unhappy with the direction Noosa appears to be heading and the apparent lack of democracy, forward planning and opportunities for our community into the future,” Mr Jarvis said in the publication’s introduction.
In the first edition of the publication, among other issues, Mr Jarvis said The Noosa River paper would “advocate for the Noosa River”.
“The Noosa River is the spine of Noosa and is important for conservation, scenic quality and provides jobs … it is a sustainable resource,” he said.
“We will advocate for a sustainable future for our river for all sectors of Noosa.”
The community forum will be held tonight at the Boathouse Noosa Restaurant, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, from 6.15pm. All interested community members are welcome to attend, but numbers are limited.
