Top honours for erosion prevention project

THE Ramblers Reef Foreshore project received the Leadership in Climate Adaption and Resilience Award at the 2020 Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards.

It is the second award the clever and creative team has received, which identifies a solution to combat coastal erosion and inundation on the Bellarine Peninsula.

The project also received the Australian Coastal Award for innovation in 2019.

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher praised the team’s achievements.

“We’re lucky to have such a beautifully diverse landscape in Greater Geelong, and so it’s vital we do all we can to conserve and enhance it,” Cr Asher said.

“I’d like to congratulate the project team on this achievement. Thanks to their innovative and collaborative approach, including their work with local residents, this project has achieved a great result for the community and coastal environment.”

The project includes work both on and offshore at Ramblers Road foreshore in Portarlington, installed in 2018, addressing the significant coastal erosion and sand movement.

Using creative design, a 130-metre long artificial reef was constructed offshore with cages containing rocks and recycled shells. The reef was designed to reduce wave energy, allowing the beach to stabilise and prevent further erosion. Over time the cages will corrode, leaving a mostly natural reef behind.

Since its installation, the project has increased beach and foreshore habitat and helped to decrease coastal inundation events.

The Ramblers Reef Foreshore project was delivered by the City’s Environment and Waste team in partnership with The University of Melbourne, National Centre for Coasts and Climate, and the Port Phillip EcoCentre, along with support from local residents.