The $1.1 million coastal walk upgrades in Noosa National Park, mentioned in Sandy’s 2024/25 Budget reply speech, have recently been completed. From Dolphin Point to the fairy pools, these include track resurfacing for better durability, construction of new rock retaining walls, and enhanced accessibility. In addition, upgrades have been actioned to beach access points at Tea Tree Bay and Alexandria Bay, a new rock retaining wall at Tanglewood Link, and upgraded interpretive signage, and we thank the previous and the new Ministers for Environment for these works. However, some residents have raised concerns regarding Noosa National Park, including in our annual survey, on the damage to the fairy pools from over visitation, the need for more rangers and compliance patrols, and for Tanglewood Track to be promoted as an alternative route for runners. Furthermore, residents have also contacted regarding an increase in inappropriate activities, such as dog walking and electric bike, scooter and illegal motorbike usage.
Sandy has continued to raise these issues, among others, with the current and previous ministers. Below is the latest progress and responses. We would appreciate feedback on any aspect to inform our ongoing advocacy via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Inappropriate activities and compliance
As a result of an increase in activities, such as the use of electric bikes and scooters, the need for increased compliance within the national parks is evident. The following in italics is the latest update from the minister following advocacy.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) are increasing compliance patrols outside regular working hours. This will include more patrols scheduled for peak times.
QPWS compliance training is also systematically being carried out to increase the number of authorised officers (rangers) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Forestry Act 1959 and the Recreational Management Act 2006.
QPWS have restructured their Cooloola Management Unit to incorporate a new compliance and education team aimed at enhancing visitor management and compliance activities.
QPWS rangers collaborate with the Noosa Shire Council local law officers, who manage
compliance within the Noosa National Park Day Use Area parking lot, and with the Queensland Police Service in joint targeted compliance operations.
The new land acquisitions and conversion of State Forest to Tewantin National Park in the Noosa Shire have resulted in two additional local ranger positions being created.
The Queensland Government has committed to boost the number of QPWS Rangers and Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers by 150 full time positions.
We thank the Minister for this response and welcome the additional rangers and increased patrols throughout our national parks, which, with the impacts of excessive volume during peak periods and poor behaviours, are greatly needed. This will also assist with deterring dog walkers, and the Minister has also confirmed rangers will continue to conduct weekly compliance operations within the national park, targeting dog walkers and other non-compliance. Our previous Noosa 360 updates on reckless electric bike, scooter and illegal motorbike usage are available at www.sandybolton.com/?s=electric+bike.
Tanglewood Track as an alternative for runners
In response to concerns, the Minister for Environment has recently provided that whilst the department is not considering prohibiting running on the coastal walking track, it agrees that the Tanglewood Track should be promoted as an alternative for runners and is considering options for best achieving this. Sandy requested a timeline of when such promotion would be actioned with the below in italics being provided regarding:
Social media content related to “user etiquette” on the Coastal Walking Track and encouraging runners to use the Tanglewood track will be featured on the department’s channels before the end of this FY.
The department’s capital rolling program has scheduled upgrades to the Tanglewood Track to improve resilience, reduce erosion, and provide better pedestrian use.
Funding has been forecasted for planning in the 2026-27 FY, with construction in the
2027-28 FY.This will allow for “a rest period” in this section of the park, which has had multiple upgrades carried out on the Coastal Walking Track over the previous years.
These works will be supported with targeted social media content to encourage runners to use this track as an alternative to the Coastal Walking Track.
Fairy pools
The department acknowledged to our office, in response to advocacy, that conflicts have occurred between coastal walking track users over conduct at the fairy pools and that they have now installed directional arrows and signage on the track to encourage appropriate user etiquette. In addition, they continue to consider options to manage site impacts and are considering social marketing through media and signage to influence/educate visitors about the site. Following this, the minister has provided the below further information in italics.
Social media content related to the conservation of Fairy Pools will be featured on the department’s channels before the end of this financial year (FY).
The department is not considering hard closure methods at this site.
Any additional interference at the site may inadvertently impact the pool and surrounding area further.
Noosa National Park car park
With residents querying who has jurisdiction, to clarify, in 2018, QPWS and Noosa Council entered into an agreement whereby council would apply its local laws to Noosa National Park to address concerns about overnight and long-term parking in and around the national park. Further information on this is available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa-national-park-car-park-update-february-2024.
Further information
Sandy’s environmental efforts are not limited to those listed above and include the need for an overhaul of the funding structures that national parks operate under and issues identified in relation to Teewah Beach and the Cooloola Recreational Area, as well as others. For our previous environment related updates, please visit www.sandybolton.com/category/environment.
For direct advocacy regarding matters related to national parks in Queensland, contact the Minister for Environment via environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.
Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.