Council has revised its Noosa (River) Foreshore Plan to ‘balance all views on community access, safety, enjoyment and aesthetics… while paving the way for improvements’.
Noosa River foreshore. IMAGE: Noosa Council
Releasing the revised plan (official from today 1 July), Mayor Frank Wilkie said council listened to the input of over 2000 residents and would keep most existing car parks and the tennis court, add a new amenities block and replace ageing infrastructure such as retaining walls.
Mayor Wilkie said while council heard the public’s message to keep the two-kilometre foreshore low impact and natural, challenges of river flooding, climate change and erosion had to be addressed.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie
‘Much of the existing infrastructure has reached the end of its service life and no longer meets current standards,’ Mayor Wilkie said.
‘Timber walls along the waterfront are significantly worn, there’s erosion along the shoreline and stormwater infrastructure over half-a-century-old needs replacing.’
The 20-year plan’s key features include retention of existing parking spots (with 10 car parks converted for motorbikes and scooters), wider shared pathways, two swimming areas where boats are restricted, a new amenities block and a new wide pathway around the boat ramp.
A new ramp will be added for wheelchair users to access the beach.
‘Fish friendly’ sloping sea walls will be constructed at river sections with erosion risk. On the foreshore, council will create low slopes planted with deep, strong root systems to stabilise and hold sand and protect the river’s edge from erosion.
Example of ‘fish friendly’ sea walls. IMAGE supplied
The Noosa Foreshore plan recognises the Kabi Kabi peoples’ cultural and spiritual connection to the foreshore and will incorporate Kabi Kabi stories, history and language on signage and develop a dedicated cultural walk along the foreshore.
The Pirate Playground will be upgraded with accessible and nature play elements added.
Spokesman for Noosa Boating and Fishing Alliance and Friends of Noosaville Foreshore, Andrew McCarthy, said while the revised foreshore plan moved towards the community’s preferred low-key design, it was not low key enough.
Andrew McCarthy. PHOTO: supplied
‘We’d prefer no new structures apart from the amenities block.
‘Community feedback said the Noosa River foreshore doesn’t need prettying up. It’s already beautiful.
‘Where we have failing bankside infrastructure, replace it, but let’s not reconfigure the whole riverbank.’
Mr McCarthy said he understood while council had adopted the overall plan for the foreshore, there would be further consultation on individual precinct plans, which was welcome.
Mayor Wilkie said the Noosa Foreshore Plan allowed council to apply for external grant funding to spare ratepayers the upgrade costs estimated at $10 million over the next 20 years.
More detail on individual precincts of the foreshore plan is available on the council website.
IMAGE at top of story: Artist’s impression of the redeveloped Noosa Foreshore supplied by Noosa Council
