The full moon on Wednesday 20th February 2019 resulted in what is commonly called a “king tide” or otherwise more technically referred to as a “High Spring Tide”, which, according to the Queensland Tide Tables, peaked at 8:39am at a height of at 2.30 metres. These higher tides are a result of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun being in alignment on the oceans. The photograph below was taken at 9:00 am near the public boat ramp on Hilton Esplanade near the fire brigade building and opposite the Noosa Lakes Resort in Tewantin.
King Tide Hilton Terrace – 20 February 2019
The Queensland Government has developed a State Planning Policy that guides the preparation of local government planning schemes and assesses development of interest to the State. In coastal areas, these hazards can include flooding, storm tides, sea level rises due to global warming and the continually rising and falling of tides as well as wave action. The existing and draft Noosa Plan detail Noosa Council’s position on coastal hazards in context within the parameters identified by the State policy.
Noosa Council has currently adopted a flood level of 2.5 m on Australia Height Datum (AHD) with a freeboard 0.3m above the level resulting in a minimum floor level of 2.8m on AHD along Hilton Esplanade. Council’s current minimum floor level of 2.8m on AHD equates to 3.923 m on low water datum that is used by tide tables. Council’s current minimum floor levels therefore need to be 1.623m above the peak of the king tide on 20th February 2019.
The draft Noosa Plan that is on public display until 20 May 2019 and includes the flood hazard overlay shown below. Council’s overlay mapping covers the lower parts of Tewantin, Noosaville and Noosa Heads. It is recommended that anyone who owns, leases or considering investing or developing in property in the lower parts of Tewantin, Noosaville and Noosa Heads, fully understand both the draft provisions in the draft Noosa Plan as being proposed by Noosa Council and those overriding provisions in the State Planning Policy well before 20th May 2019.
The Noosa office of Martoo Consulting can assist with providing such advice if required.
King Tide, Hilton Terrace