Anchor restrictions have been scaled back at a popular waterway, after the state government received feedback from locals and day-tripper boaties.
Maritime Safety Queensland, which implemented limits on the Noosa River southern shore in July, on Monday stated that it had listened to feedback related to accessing the shore, balancing risk and safety implications with the benefits of public amenity.
As a result, MSQ will implement a six-month trial to again allow vessels between 5m and 7.5m to anchor on or near the shore, as long as they anchor safely and responsibly, and consider the impact or other river users in the area.
Vessels 5m or under will still be able to anchor in the area without restrictions, provided they are also anchored safely are not being used to live aboard and do not obstruct other river users.
Marine officers will undertake routine marine pollution audits of vessels on the river, and checks for living onboard permits and anchored vessel compliance.
MSQ officers will also undertake boating safety compliance and education activities and will roll out similar restrictions to the Woods Bay and Dogs Beach/Noosa Sound areas to ensure consistency in the lower Noosa River. Living on vessels downstream of Munna Point is prohibited.
MSQ stated, via a media release, that it was confident that the trial to allow 5m to 7.5m boats to access the shore for a maximum two hours a day would benefit the community and river users.
MSQ will defer the next planned stage of the Noosa River management plan – to prohibit unoccupied vessels over 5m in length until after the busy summer holiday period – as long as they are anchored safely, are seaworthy and comply with current legislation.
All other timelines of the implementation plan for the Noosa River management plan previously put forward by MSQ will remain in place.
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Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Kell Dillon said the trial was the result of a “common sense approach”.
“Since the new anchoring restrictions were introduced, MSQ has been very pleased with the high level of compliance to the new Noosa River management plan, and the success of the program,” he said.
“MSQ has continued to communicate with the public and take onboard the feedback provided, which has led to this trial for slightly larger boats to access the area for short periods of time to allow access to parks and local shops for day-tripper type of boating activities.
“The trial ratifies the common sense approach that MSQ has taken to shoreline access since the restriction came into effect.
“MSQ has been pleased by the overwhelming community support for the changes so far, which have delivered obvious reductions in congestion and increased safe access to the shorelines of the busy Noosa River.
“The southern shoreline of the Noosa River is now far cleaner and much safer than it was before MSQ introduced the restrictions.”
Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton welcomed the trial.
“This is a step in the right direction and a key improvement identified by our community,” she said.
“Our work has also included advocating for the full MSQ consultation results to be released and for the maximisation of existing moorings.”
The requested information sought from MSQ’s consultation regarding the Noosa River management is now available, and it will soon be available on MSQ’s website.
Ms Bolton said it had been six years of working towards this point.
“As we are moving through the various stages, it is really good to see that MSQ is responding to feedback from our community,” she said.
