Shoreline trial takes shape

The shoreline protection trial, in front of NewPort Quays in the inner harbour, is now partly visible – at low tide – with the deployment of 110 coir bags of clean recycled Pacific oyster shell.

The trial aims to lessen the impact of wash on the seawall and shoreline and is funded by a $10K SA Community Sustainability Grant, sponsored by the SA Government and the Conservation Council SA, supporting the community in ‘implementing, on-ground climate related projects.’

Fifty five bags were deployed each day on October 15th and 17th, by Estuary Care Foundation volunteers and Conservation Volunteer Australia (CVA) volunteers.

Bags delivered to punt 15.10.17

Bags delivered to shore 15.10.19

Installing posts to secure bags 15.10.19

Transferring posts to shoreline 17.10.19

Bags being secured by CVA volunteers 17.10.19

ECF & CVA volunteers 15.10.19

ECF has obtained

• Development Approval from Council, following advice from the Coast Protection Board
• Ministerial Permit from PIRSA to deploy the bags of shell, with the shell to be supplied only from SA oyster growers
• Approval from DEW to transplant some mangrove seedlings and propagules from Mutton Cove (where there’s an abundance, now the area is flooding) to the shoreline

Prior to setting out the bags on the shoreline, the shells were checked and the coir bags were filled by ECF and CVA volunteers.

ECF and CVA team bagging shell at Ardrossan 25.9.19

The next stage is collecting and transplanting mangrove seedlings and propagules and we’re planning to do that in late October.