Consider this: a hidden gem lies just 100 meters from the shore near Ramblers Road. It is an artificial shellfish reef. This reef acts like a breakwater. Let me tell you the story of the Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef.
Severe storms once battered this foreshore near Portarlington. The shoreline moved. Residents asked the City of Greater Geelong to fix the problem. They wanted to protect their properties from inundation.
Hard engineering solutions can cause adverse impacts. They can lead to beach loss and ecological damage. The council sought an environmentally friendly approach. They partnered with the University of Melbourne. Together they wanted to build coastal resilience.
The Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef project used onshore and offshore methods. Low-lying land was raised. Coastal native plants were introduced. They help contain overtopping water during storms. The shared foreshore path was also raised for extra protection.
Offshore, a semi-submersible breakwater was constructed. It is an artificial reef, 100 meters from shore, parallel to the beach. The Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef reduces wave energy. It also combats erosion. The reef is 130 meters long and 8 meters wide. It was built using modular cages containing rock and shell. Over time, the cages will corrode leaving a natural reef.
The Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef was seeded with native mussels. Scientists are monitoring it. They examine colonisation of marine communities. The project has increased beach habitat. Inundation events have decreased. Seagrass has also re-established in the shallow waters.
The Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef is made from cages filled with natural rock. It is also made with consolidated shell. The reef has successfully decreased inundation events. It increased sand accumulation. It led to re-establishment of seagrass. The shellfish species used was blue mussels. The seeding density was 2000 per square meter. The hybrid structure is natural rock and consolidated shell. The structure is 0.75 and 0.5 meters high. It is 7 meters wide and 130 meters long.
The Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef cost $430,000. It was completed in June 2018. The project needed consent from DELWP Marine & Coastal. It also needed a Parks Victoria works authority.
The judges applauded the innovative approach. It looked beyond traditional methods. It pursued habitat creation and restoration. Results from this site will inform living shoreline approaches. It may help green other existing structures. So next time you’re near Ramblers Road take a moment to appreciate the innovative Ramblers Road Shellfish Reef. It protects our coastline and supports marine life.