The Noosa River has maintained its A- quality score in this year’s Healthy Land and Water Report Card, despite a fall in other regional catchment scores.
Holding a steady A-minus river rating while others fall follows extensive erosion-control work by Noosa Landcare in the Kin Kin catchment and consistent efforts by Noosa Integrated Catchment Association. In the face of increasing population and climate pressure, constant work is needed to maintain and hopefully improve the health of the Noosa River into the future.
Noosa’s waterway benefit rating held strong at 4.5 stars, reflecting the high number of residents satisfied with the waterways. Excellent catchment condition results in extremely high numbers of residents – 86 % – who are satisfied with their local waterways, and extremely high levels of personal benefits local residents gain from using their waterways – 81% compared to 58% for all of South East Queensland. 40% of Noosa Shire residents recreate in or alongside their local waterways at least daily, among the highest within South East Queensland.
The Report Card noted Noosa’s freshwater creeks were in excellent health, with a slight improvement in aquatic insect health at Ringtail Creek. Stream bank vegetation in the catchment is still excellent (89% cover), as is wetland extent (88% cover) in the freshwater reaches.
Healthy Land and Water’s Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (EHMP) is regarded as one of the most comprehensive waterway monitoring programs in Australia. Now in its 21st year, it delivers an annual regional assessment of the environmental condition and benefits of waterways for South East Queensland catchments.
