​Noosa Parklands Residents Association Inc.

Heritage Park Management 2015

COMPLAINT

Emails were sent to the Mayor Noel Playford and also CEO Brett De Chastel of Noosa Council on the 20th and 25 May 2014 respectively concerning HEALTH & SAFETY concerns both for resident's properties abutting Heritage Park and recreational users.

A details 'Submission' dated 26 June 2014 with some resident's concerns and previous submissions attached as an APPENDIX, was presented to Noosa Council.

Substantially these concerns have been updated with more photos and diagrams on this website.

As no further contact or decision was confirmed in writing. A complaint was also lodged to the Queensland Ombudsman who advised the Noosa Council on 28 january 2015 to complete an internal review under their 'Complaints Policy' guidelines.

RESULT

Without elaborating on the merit of the replies of both Noosa Council and the Queensland Ombudsman, the conclusion reached was as follows:

The Community Services Department of Noosa Council has prepared a Draft Management Plan. This will be reviewed internally by all council departments with responsibility for pests, flooding, bushfire, disaster management and the environmental section.

The development of the Management Plan will be from April 2015 to August 2015 and the internal process will include wide PUBLIC CONSULTATION via Council's web page and other media, therefore ownership of the plan by all competing interests.

" The result of this Management Plan will provide a framework for operational work to balance the needs for a more formalised active park area, natural vegetation and minimise impacts of flooding and mosquito breeding issues."

HERITAGE PARK HEALTHY HABITAT PROJECT

"Under HPB's project, weeds will be removed and 600 native species will be planted within two hectares of currently vegetated areas in Heritage Park. No work will be undertaken in open grassed areas.

It is anticipated that these activities will enhance the environmental connections of the park to neighbouring Tewantin State Forest and Lake Cooroibah, improve the habitat for native fauna in the area, limit the spread of invasive weeds such as lantana, Singapore daisy and camphor laurel and improve water quality of Wooroi Creek.

As per the requirements under the Everyone's Environment Grant program, Noosa Council, as the local government responsible for managing the park, has provided a letter of support for HPB to undertake the aforementioned activities. Representatives from the council will be attending all community days to assist in weeding and revegation activities. The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection considers this to be an appropriate level of supervision of these activities."

Summary:

"This project aims to increase the biodiversity and improve the connectivity of habitat for fauna in Heritage Park Tewantin. This will be achieved by removing weeds, planting 600 native trees and dispersing seeds from plants endemic to the area. Activities will take place along Wooroi Creek, a tributary of the Noosa River. The project aims to improve the water quality of the creek and Noosa River and re-establish native fauna for the wildlife of the park (including koalas, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and Black Glossy Cockatoo)"

(Heritage Park Bushcare Group 2015 Project.)