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 will commence in June 2025 and take around two months to complete, depending on the weather and site conditions.

Key activities

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

What to expect

• During construction, the works area and a site compound for construction material and machinery will be fenced with restricted access
• Construction machinery will access the works area via Bath Street
• When machinery is being moved, usual pedestrian access and pathways may be restricted. An alternative pedestrian route will be provided. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Project 2: Oyster Point Park, Cleveland

The second pilot project at Oyster Point Park in Cleveland will trial a number of the methods that are planned to be used in the ongoing Living Shorelines initiative. Construction on this small project will commence and finish in August 2025.

Importantly there will be no excavation of surface in a no-dig design/construction, to ensure cultural heritage values of foreshores are not disturbed by works.

Key activities:

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

What to expect

• During construction, the works area and a site compound for construction material and machinery will be fenced with restricted access.
• When machinery is being moved, usual pedestrian access and pathways may be restricted. An alternative pedestrian route will be provided.

Frequently Asked Questions