'B' Means we Need to do Better

COMMUNITY FORUM: SOLUTIONS FOR THE NOOSA RIVER

Noosa River, South East Queensland's healthiest waterways lost it's A rating in the 2009 Healthy Waterways Report Card. The Noosa Residents and Ratepayers Associations (NRRA) is inviting the community and interested organisations to be involved in a forum to find solutions to the River's problems.  NRRA President Brian Stockwell thinks that "the 'B' water quality rating means we can do 'B'etter".

NRRA with NICA and other Noosa Community groups have successfully lobbied the State Minister for Natural Resources to reinstate the Noosa River Advisory Committee to drive the Noosa River Plan implementation further.  Now it's time to make that process work.

The River Plan is a great strategic document but the NRRA believe the community needs to be more involved in designing the solutions to the specific problems now.  Mr Stockwell suggests a collaboration of community groups and agencies could develop a detailed rehabilitation plan to address river erosion at the River Mouth, Hilton Esplanade, Johns Landing and in Kin Kin Creek, as well as identifying specific actions to ameliorate broader water quality and fish habitat threats.

Bringing government and all the interested community groups together will help us access grants and funding to do more sooner to address problems in the river and on the river -- such as the removal of derelict boats and other recreational management problems.

The expert panel session will discuss potential ongoing revenue streams for the maintenance of the river as a natural, recreational and tourism asset.

Department of Environment and Resources Management's Regional Manager for Planning and Assessment, Paul Macdonald, Council's River Plan leader Raul Weychart and Noosa Tourism will speak at the forum and a panel of experts is being assembled to help guide the forum.  

The forum is a precursor to the planned Flotilla the following week-end.  We want to give the community the chance to come up with the solutions that we can communicate widely.  All interested community group members are encouraged to attend.

The forum is at 6:00pm on Monday 16th November at the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club. For more information contact myplacenoosa@gmail.com.