The Noosa River is a relatively unmodified river system with particularly high environmental and scenic values. It is under constant pressure from human activity including construction, boat traffic, recreational pursuits, tourism, fishing and dredging.

NPA is committed to seeing significant recovery of the marine habitat and abundance and diversity of marine life in the Noosa River and Lakes system and in Laguna Bay.

As a first step, NPA marshalled the necessary support and resources to commission an expert team of marine scientists to address the question: “To what extent can aquatic biodiversity and fish abundance be recovered in the  Noosa River and Lakes system and Laguna Bay?”  The expert workshop was run in October 2014 by internationally recognised group The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with local philanthropic organisation The Thomas Foundation.

The Noosa Estuary and Lakes Report was presented to Noosa Council  by Noosa Parks Association, The Nature Conservancy and The Thomas Foundation.  As a result, Noosa Council voted to support two priority scientific studies – oyster plate deployment and prawn/fish stock assessment.

Report 1 – Historical ecology of the Noosa Estuary fisheries

Report 2 – An Assessment of Oyster Recruitment

Following these studies, Noosa Council, The Thomas Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and The Australian Government established oyster reefs at 4 restoration sites in the Noosa River. The 30 reef patches are titled the Huon Mundy Reef Project. The reefs are made from oyster shells. As they recruit new oysters, the new reefs will serve as habitat for a range of sea creatures as well as filtering the water to improve water quality in the river.

More recently, NPA has participated in The Resilient Rivers Strategy funded by the SEQ Council of Mayors.

We have also provided input into the public consultation on legislation to establish the Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority.

NPA funded a sediment study in the Noosa River carried out by Ecological Service Professionals.

Under the umbrella title of Bring Back the Fish, NPA championed the project now known as Keep It In Kin Kin which seeks to prevent sediment from entering the river system via the Kin Kin catchment.

NPA maintains a Project Officer for the Noosa River, currently Dr. Michael Gloster.

We will continue to monitor the river and its health with a view to restoring at least some of its former natural abundance. We also keep a close eye on political decisions affecting the Noosa River.