Community members are set to meet with state government officials at a public briefing, amid calls for clarity on a planned waterways authority.
A hearing will be held at The Events Centre at Caloundra on Wednesday, April 1, regarding the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority (SCWA) Bill, which was introduced to Queensland Parliament earlier this month.
It comes as Noosa Council and Noosa MP Sandy Bolton called on the state government to provide more information on the planned group, which would be responsible for waterways from Noosa Lakes to Pumicestone Passage, and after almost 100 submissions were made in relation to the proposal, including from Sunshine Coast Council and conservation, wildlife, Indigenous, boating, fishing and residents’ groups.
It’s understood the SCWA could play a key role in areas undergoing significant change, like the northern reaches of the Pumicestone Passage, the Noosa River and the Mooloolah River mouth.
A Maritime Safety Queensland spokesperson assured locals that their voices would be heard via the submissions process and by the authority when it establishes its management strategy.
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Noosa Council, which will appear as a ‘witness’ at the hearing, outlined a range of concerns.
“Without refinements, the bill risks creating duplication, confusion and decisions that don’t suit local conditions or community values,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
“Importantly, we need a clearer definition of roles and responsibilities between the proposed SCWA, councils and existing state agencies.
“Our community expects to see waterway‑specific planning that reflects our local needs.”
Ms Bolton said the Noosa community should be sufficiently consulted before any decisions affecting local waterways progress.
“Noosa has been seeking clear answers for a year and a half about what the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority will mean in practice and why Noosa was included without prior engagement,” she said.
“It is currently unclear how another layer of bureaucracy, at significant cost, would be of benefit to Noosa, when what is needed are the extra resources for MSQ to monitor and manage.”
Ms Bolton said residents had questioned how the authority would operate given existing responsibilities held by MSQ, the Department of Agriculture and the council, which already play key roles in managing aspects of the river and foreshore.
“Any new structure must strengthen, not undercut, nor duplicate. Given there has been no commitment to additional on-the-ground resources, the question remains as to why $35.6 million is being spent without a justifiable rationale,” she said.
“Our waterways are central to Noosa’s identity, economy and lifestyle. Any changes to how they are governed must be undertaken with our community, not around it.”
Sunshine Coast Council’s submission stated that council officers “acknowledged and supported the opportunity presented by the proposed establishment of the authority for more strategic and cohesive management of waterways”.
But it called for clarity on two clauses of the bill, regarding the authority’s scope and functions and relationships with other programs.
It said ‘waterways management’ was a broad term that could be “confused with a range of other activities” and that “some authority functions may overlap with existing activities of council and other organisations”.
“The bill and explanatory notes provide limited detail on functional boundaries or areas of responsibility,” the submission said.
The MSQ spokesperson said locals could express their concerns and questions via the submissions process.
They added that the state government was committed to establishing the SCWA and that the group would liaise with locals.
“The Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority will consult with the community and key stakeholders when developing its waterways management strategy, including local governments and Maritime Safety Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
The proposed functions of the SCWA include to: plan strategically for the management of the Sunshine Coast waterways by developing a waterways management strategy that considers the benefits and impacts for the local community, local environment, and local marine industries, tourism and economy; develop a waterways management program to implement the waterways management strategy; install, manage and maintain infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast waterways; manage navigational access to, and within, the Sunshine Coast waterways; and monitor and manage sand and sediment movement in Sunshine Coast waterways and adjacent coastal waters and land.
LNP Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson has previously said the authority would act as a “one-stop shop”, to ensure local knowledge was better incorporated into waterway management, while providing ongoing certainty for commercial tourism and fishing operators into the future.
Transport Minister Trent Mickelberg said the authority will be led by a board of seven.
“The government is working to identify suitable candidates who will represent the community and different waterways interests,” he said, when presenting the bill.
The public hearing will be held from 9.30am.
