A promise for funding to upgrade boat infrastructure is set to be fulfilled despite some silence on when the money would be allocated.
Before the state election last year, the LNP committed $2.5 million to provide boating-related upgrades along the Noosa River.
The proposed improvements would address a shortfall in boat ramps and boat trailer parking, reducing pressure on local car parking.
However, since the election little had been said on if, or when, the funding would be allocated.
In March 2023, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) released its findings for the Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study 2022, which identified a raft of recommended “priority projects” for the Noosa region.
These included ramp upgrades at Thomas Street, Noosaville, and Lake Street, Hilton Esplanade and Moorindil Street, Tewantin.
Based on the study, the council could advocate for support and funding to the state government and MSQ, which is responsible for boating infrastructure.
Former Noosa mayor Clare Stewart made the funding promise while campaigning as an LNP candidate for the seat of Noosa ahead of the October 2024 election.
At the time, she said the investment would be the first made by a state government to expand boating infrastructure in Noosa in more than 30 years.
“Current facilities are at, or over, capacity and this has led to flow-on impacts in terms of parking and other congestion issues around existing boat ramps,” Ms Stewart said in October last year.
Following the election, Noosa Boating Fishing Alliance president Andrew McCarthy has been lobbying the state government to confirm the funding is “genuine” and would be allocated.
“We are not asking for new boat ramps but upgrades to existing boat ramps in water assets and, critically, to expand car trailer parking,” he told Sunshine Coast News.
“Noosa has just 37 car-trailer spaces to share between (more than 4600) locally owned trailer boats.
“Noosa has had no expansion of boating infrastructure in 30 years, despite state reports identifying the shortfall since before 2005.”
During public question time at the February ordinary meeting, Mr McCarthy asked Noosa Council when it would contact the state government to access the pledged funding.
At the time, Noosa Council’s director of infrastructure services Shaun Walsh said the council had not received confirmation of the pre-election commitment but that infrastructure upgrades remained a priority and it was working with MSQ to discuss opportunities.
“Council acknowledges the importance of boat ramp facilities and associated parking for the community and desires for upgrades,” he said in response to Mr McCarthy’s question.
“I can confirm that council officers have been proactively meeting with Maritime Safety Queensland officers to discuss boat facilities upgrades, and opportunity for funding from all available sources, and will continue to actively progress the matter in a collaborative manner.”
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has since confirmed to Sunshine Coast News that the funding has been allocated.
“The $2.5 million pre-election commitment for boating infrastructure along the Noosa River has been allocated to Maritime Safety Queensland,” a statement from a TMR spokesperson said.
“MSQ is working with Noosa Shire Council to finalise the election commitment projects.
“Further liaison between MSQ and the council is planned in the coming months to progress the commitment.”
The spokesperson said MSQ would be guided by the Queensland Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study 2022.
“This report quantifies current and projected recreational demand for boating infrastructure, including the Noosa Local Government Area.
“While the study provides recommendations on meeting demand, these recommendations are non-binding and must be considered alongside other planning factors by each delivery agency – including MSQ and the Noosa Shire Council.”
Mr McCarthy said while it was positive the funding had been allocated, the next hurdle was putting the funding to use.
“The biggest challenge now is the step between being allocated to being funded,” he said.
“We’ve met with the council to talk about the projects. We know $2.5 million can’t give us everything we want, but the biggest challenge we have in Noosa is ramp lanes and parking.”
Mr McCarthy said the alliance would like to see longer ramps at existing boat-launching locations, floating pontoons rather than fixed jetties and more car parking.
He also referenced the current rules around jet skis, which are only allowed to launch from Thomas Street, and said it would be beneficial if the if they could be launched from other boat ramps as well.
“Noosa deserves the infrastructure to serve its residents. We just want to make sure it is fit for purpose,” he said.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
