Living Shorelines

Overview 

The Living Shorelines initiative is an innovative and ongoing program of works that will use a combination of nature-based solutions and engineered methods to minimise long-term coastal erosion at a number of locations across the city.  

The initiative is part of Council’s broader Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) and is being delivered under the QCoast2100 program that is funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by the Local Government Association Queensland.

Program goals

• Mitigate coastal erosion by utilising natural breakwaters such as timber logs to create calm areas, combined with earthworks and revegetation to stabilise erosion scarps.
• Promote ecological health through vegetation and minor structural works to support natural habitats and promote the local environmental conditions that contribute to stable coastlines.
• Explore sustainable solutions including cost-effective and low-maintenance alternatives to traditional engineering methods.

Project 1: Three Paddocks Park, Birkdale

The pilot project at Three Paddocks Park in Birkdale will trial a number of the methods that are planned to be used in the ongoing Living Shorelines initiative. Construction on this small project commenced in June 2025 and took approximately eight weeks to complete.

Key activities

1. Earthworks: erosion scarps were reshaped and stabilised to protect public open spaces and assets like the footpath and exercise equipment. 
   a) Works were not undertaken along the creek to ensure there would be no impact on marine fauna such as sea turtles. 
   b) Earthworks did not change the levels of the park or change stormwater overland flow.
2. Revegetation: coastal species like saltmarsh and dune plants have been planted to help ensure ongoing stability.
3. Timber log breakwaters: breakwaters made of natural materials were installed to create calm areas for vegetation growth and mangrove recolonisation.
4. Seed trapping devices: seed trapping devices were installed to encourage natural mangrove growth. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Project 2: Oyster Point Park, Cleveland

The second pilot project at Oyster Point Park in Cleveland is trialling several methods we expect will be used in the ongoing Living Shorelines initiative. Construction on this small project carried out and completed in August 2025.

Importantly, there was no excavation of the surface, as part of a no-dig design/construction, to ensure cultural heritage values of foreshores were not disturbed by works.

Key activities:

1. Bank stabilisation: imported fill was placed over erosion scarps and stable gradients established to protect public open spaces and assets like the viewing platform, tables and seating. 
   a) Geofabric material was placed over existing surface levels to enable groundcover plants to establish. 
2. Revegetation: coastal species like saltmarsh and dune plants were planted to help ensure ongoing stability.
3. Temporary removable breakwaters: breakwaters made of rock bags and concrete blocks were installed at the toe of the works to create calm areas for groundcovers to become established. Once groundcovers are sufficiently mature and established, the rock bags and concrete blocks will be removed to ensure the beautiful views of Moreton Bay are not permanently changed, and the materials will be re-purposed on other coastal protection projects.
4. Bollard and sandstone blocks: The vegetation will be sensitive in its establishment phase, so the sandstone blocks will help reduce pedestrian movement over the revegetation area. This site is also very important for critically endangered shorebird species. So, a bollard has been installed to restrict vehicle access to foreshore and minimise impact to shorebirds and habitat. 

Frequently Asked Questions