Cooloola Coastal Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2019 Contents 1.0 The Plan 1.0 The Plan ..............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Why has this plan been Management of land in the coastal zone requires 1.1 Why has this plan been developed? ................................................................1 consideration of a range of coastal and marine issues, developed? and is governed under a variety of legislative and 1.2 Why are we responsible for the foreshore? ...................................................1 The Cooloola Coastal Foreshore Reserves policy instruments. The Cooloola Coast supports 1.3 What are we trying to achieve with this Plan? ..............................................1 Management Plan (the Plan) has been designed to significant environmental values, including the Great 1.4 Use of this Plan ..........................................................................................................2 direct the management of specific coastal reserves Sandy Strait, which is an internationally recognised 1.5 Relationship to other Plans ...................................................................................2 within the Gympie region. It provides the management Ramsar wetland, a nationally recognised Important 1.6 Review ...........................................................................................................................2 intent and vision for these areas, consistent with Wetland of Australia (DIWA), and a State Marine Park (see Appendix C). Migratory and threatened 1.7 Legislative context ....................................................................................................2 Council policy and the requirements of State and Federal legislation. species occur through this area as well as important 2.0 Foreshore Reserves ........................................................................................................9 remnant vegetation communities (see Appendix D). 2.1 Reserve classifications .............................................................................................9 This plan will enable new development and general The foreshore provides important recreational and 2.2 Planning principles for management of reserves ......................................10 maintenance within these reserve classifications to economic values for the communities of Tin Can Bay, be consistent with the intended use of the reserve, 2.3 Management Actions for all Reserve Types .................................................14 Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach, as well as the and in line with current best practice environmental broader Gympie region. 3.0 Environmental Values of the Foreshore Reserves ............................................18 management. This plan will be available for use 3.1 Reserve governance ...............................................................................................18 both internally within Council and externally by 3.2 Great Sandy Strait Wetlands and tidal waterways .....................................18 infrastructure service providers such as Telstra 1.3 What are we trying to 3.3 Coastal regional ecosystem types ....................................................................18 and Energex; local NRM community groups such achieve with this Plan? as Coastcare; or any group wishing to undertake 3.4 Priority local species ..............................................................................................20 approved works on the foreshore. The key objectives of the Plan are as follows: 3.5 Coastal fauna ............................................................................................................20 • Habitat, species and sites of Federal, State, and Vision: 3.6 Coastal flora ..............................................................................................................20 Local significance within coastal foreshore reserves The Cooloola Coast’s foreshore reserves are 3.7 Cultural heritage .....................................................................................................20 are protected from recreational, management and managed to enhance and maintain their natural development activities. 4.0 Management principles and guidelines ..............................................................21 values, whilst also providing recreational • Water quality in the coastal zone is preserved at 4.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................21 opportunities for residents and visitors. a standard that protects and maintains coastal 4.2 Management guidelines ......................................................................................21 ecosystems and their ability to support human use 4.3 Infrastructure improvements..............................................................................26 1.2 Why are we responsible for and ecological function. 5.0 Monitoring and review ...............................................................................................27 • The unique characteristics of each coastal 6.0 Actions ..............................................................................................................................28 the foreshore? community are preserved within the context of 7.0 Glossary ............................................................................................................................31 The foreshores of the Cooloola Coast were originally their physical setting and recognised for their declared under the management and control of the importance to the quality of life of both residents 8.0 Appendices ......................................................................................................................33 Widgee Shire Council through a proclamation by an and visitors. Appendix A - foreshore declaration A - foreshore proclamation .....................34 Order in Council in 1970 in relation to coastal bathing • Areas of scenic value are preserved and the natural Appendix B - foreshore declaration B - bathing reserve order .........................36 reserves, and by the Chief Justice of Queensland in character of the coast is retained. Appendix C - environmental context A - Ramsar wetland ..................................38 1979 as a proclamation under the Local Government • Foreshore recreational facilities are designed, Act 1936-1978. Since this time, the majority of the Appendix D - environmental context B - threatened species ............................41 provided and maintained to satisfy local and visitor foreshore remains the responsibility of Council. This Appendix E - HAT Maps ....................................................................................................44 demand and to encourage and support sustainable is the case in relation to reserve land held by Council tourism. in trust and freehold land owned by Council (see Appendix A and B). • A wide diversity of high-quality recreational opportunities, consistent with the protection of the natural and cultural values of the region and the quality of visitor experience, are provided. Page II of 45 | Cooloola Coastal Foreshore Reserves Management Plan Revised: 16/05/2019 | ENV0003 ENV0003 | Revised: 16/05/2019 Cooloola Coastal Foreshore Reserves Management Plan | Page 1 of 45 In addition to these key objectives, it is Council’s intent Each of these instruments will prevail over the Plan Legislation Environmental Purpose of statute Obligations to ensure that all activities undertaken within these to the extent of any inconsistency. However, in the Element reserves preserve the environmental values of the application of these instruments, regard should be Great Sandy Straits wetland, including habitat, water had to achieving the outcomes of the Plan as far as Environment Threatened Flora/ This Act aims to protect the Any developments (‘actions’) that and sediment quality, amenity, and use. This wetland is practical. Protection and Fauna environment, particularly matters of may result in significant impacts on therefore treated as a ‘keystone’ environmental value Biodiversity Act Threatened National Environmental Significance. matters of National Environmental for the purposes of managing the Cooloola Coast. 1999 Ecological Significance should be referred 1.6 Review Communities to the Commonwealth Minister Management of coastal foreshores should, at all times, for the Environment. The Minister This Plan will be operational for a period of 10 Migratory Species seek to meet the above key objectives, as well as any determines if the activity it is a years, with a mid-term review following five years. specific guidelines or objectives for the management World Heritage controlled action (there will be The mid-term review will be undertaken by Council area and/or activity type. Areas development constraints placed on officers from the Planning and Development and Wetlands the project), not a controlled action, Infrastructure Services Directorates in consultation or can be carried out ‘in the manner 1.4 Use of this Plan with relevant community stakeholders. specified’. This Plan applies to all works undertaken in the The intent of the review will be to evaluate Matters of national environmental reserves identified in Maps 1 to 3, regardless of the achievement of the following: significance, include: person or entity undertaking the works.