An iconic local surf break could soon receive greater protection after council endorsed a motion to recognise it in a proposed management plan.
Noosa Council voted at its February 19 ordinary meeting to include a dedicated section for First Point within its proposed Surf Management Plan.
The motion was introduced by Councillor Amelia Lorentson, who called for the council to recognise the surf break’s “unique significance and ensure its values are formally considered in coastal management”.
“First Point, Noosa Heads, is one of Australia’s most iconic and internationally recognised surf breaks and an important environmental, recreational and cultural asset for both the local community and visitors,” she said.
“It contributes significantly to Noosa’s identity, lifestyle and visitor economy, and holds a special meaning for many in the community – shaping daily routines, supporting wellbeing and fostering a strong sense of connection and belonging to place.
“The surf break, beach, dunes and adjoining foreshore operate as an interconnected coastal system. Sand movement, shoreline condition and coastal works in the area can directly influence wave quality, surf amenity and the health of the surrounding environment. For this reason, management decisions at First Point require careful and coordinated consideration.”
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First Point is part of the internationally recognised Noosa World Surfing Reserve but Cr Lorentson said the designation did not provide any legislative or statutory protection.
“It does not regulate coastal works, sand-pumping activities, pipelines, anchoring systems or other interventions that may affect wave quality, sediment dynamics or foreshore condition. As a result, First Point remains vulnerable despite its global status,” she said.
“Community groups, including Save First Point, have continually raised issues regarding sand pumping and coastal works, noting that Noosa Council has not pumped sand in this area for many years. These concerns reflect strong and enduring community expectations that a place of such significance should be afforded more targeted and robust protection.
“In the absence of new state-led legislative or policy measures, there is a clear need for council to investigate locally driven planning, coastal management, heritage mechanisms and legal pathways to better safeguard First Point’s environmental, cultural and recreational values.”
Cr Lorentson said including a dedicated section for First Point within the proposed Surf Management Plan, which is a key part of the council’s recently endorsed Destination Management Plan, would be a “practical, low-cost and proportionate first step”.
In response, Cr Brian Stockwell said he had no problem considering increased protections for the break but was opposed to one action “jumping the queue” as part of the Surf Management Plan.
“What we’ve been asked to consider is, after five years of a strategic planning process that came up with a 10-year plan for destination management, we’ve been asked to prioritise one action in there,” he said.
“If I was to write a course on ‘How not to do planning 101’, the process in this motion would be a good case study.
“We certainly don’t want to dictate what a Surf Management Plan is going to include before we listen to all the stakeholders, and that’s what this motion does. It takes out that process of actually engaging people and trying to understand what’s important to put in a Surf Management Plan.
“We’ve been asked to adopt a very inefficient mechanism to address an issue of concern to board riders. That issue is they’re concerned that the current state of the sand on the beach is not optimal for the sort of waves that they’ve enjoyed over recent decades.”
An amendment was then proposed by Mayor Frank Wilkie, adding “that the Surf Management Plan is one of many actions identified for council consideration under the Destination Management Plan” to Cr Lorentson’s motion, and that the council “consider this work alongside all other actions”.
The amended motion was subsequently adopted four votes to three, with Cr Wilkie, Cr Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips and Cr Tom Wegener in favour and Cr Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel and Cr Nicola Wilson opposed.
