Category: Blog
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Responding to HAB: how to support and make more resilient the Port River & Barker Inlet Estuary
in BlogThe Friends of Port River has made a submission to the Joint Committee on Harmful Algal Blooms in South Australia advocating greater protection, conservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Port River and Barker Inlet Estuary, in response to the HAB. This blog outlines the impacts of HAB on the Estuary to the…
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Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) impacts Port River
in BlogThe first official report of the Harmful Algal Bloom in the Port River came from the Department of Environment and Water on 8th July 2025, advising that Testing undertaken last week has confirmed elevated levels of the Karenia species along the metropolitan coastline, and very high levels at the Garden Island and Outer Harbor boat…
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Port River Pool: proposal stranded
in BlogNo positive progress for the pool was made at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield’s August 12th meeting, when Council considered the Stage 2 Feasibility Study for the proposed Port River Swimming Facility. It was disappointing to FPR that Council decided against lending in-principle support, instead deferring any further consideration to some unknown future time…
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Port River Swimming Facility: Stage 2 Study
in BlogThe Stage 2 Study for the proposed Port River Swimming Facility has been completed, and presented to the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, and is now available to the community. The design of the swimming facility has been advanced with three design options providing appropriate water experiences for the community. Design option 3 is shown…
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Water Quality and Sediment tests at Cruickshank’s Corner
in BlogAs the Friends of Port River promote the concept of a Swimming Facility at Cruickshank’s Corner, community members ask about water quality and possible contaminants. In response, the testing of water quality and sediments was tackled in the Stage 2 Feasibility Study for the swimming facility. Water quality: In a December 2024 meeting with the…
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Environmentalists seek protection for Gillman wetlands and vegetation in face of increased threat
in BlogUpdate (6.8.25): Minister Champion approved the Lot 502 development, making it more urgent that the remaining Threatened Ecological community (TEC) Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh and wetlands are protected. Local environmentalists are opposing State Government plans to almost triple its T2D spoil reuse facility at Gillman and argue that the SA Planning Minister should rectify…
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Sub Yard expansion poses Environmental Risks
in BlogAs the Commonwealth and State Governments develop plans for expanding the Osborne shipyard, several major environmental reports were released for public comment: Both were open for public comment from Monday 3rd February until Monday 17th March, 2025. The Friends of Port River responded to the EIS and SIAR with written submissions: Response to draft EIS_Friends…
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Swimming in natural environments occurs around Australia – the Port River is an ideal placePort River Swimming Facility
in BlogAbout the proposal Imagine a swimming facility in the Port River where you could undertake morning exercise, a place to cool off during warm days and evenings, a venue for your next catch up with family and friends, and another enjoyable reason to visit the Port Adelaide region. Friends of Port River, with financial assistance…
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Study of Oyster Recruitment & Biodiversity in Port River
in BlogOyster Recruitment and Biodiversity was part of Ishtar Kenny’s PhD studies, at the University of Adelaide. Ishtar investigated Oyster Recruitment and Biodiversity in 3 Robust Oyster Baskets (ROBs) and some mini oyster baskets, and on settlement plates, at two sites in the Port River. The study was seeking to understand how many baby Native oysters…
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Seagrass monitoring update
in BlogNow low tides during daytime have returned, Friends of Port River (FPR) have gone back to Torrens Island to check on our 3 seagrass monitoring sites at Lipsons. FPR is continuing seagrass monitoring that began with Estuary Care Foundation in 2017. Following heatwaves in Feb 2023 and March 2024, FPR went to Lipsons on March…
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Yitpi Yartapuultiku’s Living Shoreline
in BlogIn 2024 major changes were made to the shoreline fronting Yitpi Yartapuultiku. The old bank was removed and the River given space to show its tidal flows, that vary from approx. 0.2m to 2.7m. The space created allows for rising sea level rise and demonstrates an eco-engineering response to climate change. Two headlands were built…
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Can potato starch structures assist seagrass recovery?
in BlogField work began this week on Torrens Island deploying potato starch structures (BESE) as a potential aid to seagrass recovery. Dr Alice Jones, The Future Coast Lab, University of Adelaide with local and interstate colleagues, and some volunteers from FPR and Flinders Ports, has been laying out BESE (Biodegradable EcoSystem restoration Elements), as shown below,…
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Shrubby Samphire Recovery Plan
in BlogThe future of Shrubby Samphires and Slender-billed Thornbills in the Green Adelaide region (and hopefully beyond) has been enhanced by the Board of Green Adelaide approving Shrubby samphire: A local recovery plan, developed by Peri Coleman and Faith Coleman, Delta Environmental Consulting. Shrubby samphire (Tecticornia arbuscula) is a tall samphire occurring in the temperate saltmarsh…
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Climate Resilient Infrastructure Program
in BlogJuly 2025 amendment: To date this project has not proceeded as outlined below. It’s understood the Coast Protection Board funds remain with City of Port Adelaide Enfield for the proposed governance project. An update was presented to Council’s July 2024 meeting on what Council has termed the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Program (CRIP): “The Climate Resilient…
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T2D excess soil proposed as fill for controversial Gillman land
in BlogUpdate: The Minister for Planning approved this development on 11th December 2024 and the ABC covered this story on ABC News and online on 17 December 2024. State Government plans for Gillman land, adjoining the Magazine Creek wetlands, are raising grave concerns about environmental risks and public costs. The Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)…
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Inadequate draft ADS Management Plan 2024
in BlogFriends of the Port River were disappointed with the draft Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) Management Plan 2024, which was recently out for public consultation. This is the first update of the ADS Management Plan since the original plan was adopted in 2008 and is proposed as a seven year Plan. It’s hoped that significant improvements…
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Launch of ECF’s Future Vision
in BlogOn World Environment Day, June 5th, Friends of Port River (FPR) launched online the Estuary Care Foundation’s (ECF) Future Vision for the Port River and Barker Inlet Estuary. The Board of ECF decided to develop a Future Vision in 2022 in anticipation of ECF closing. Catherine McMahon and Alena Gerlek developed the content and Tom…
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Swimming Facility in Port River – further studies in 2024/25
in BlogSince 2020 Estuary Care Foundation has partnered with North Haven Surf Life Saving Club seeking a Tidal Swimming Facility in the Port River. The Coastal Engineering Scoping Study for a Tidal Swimming Facility: Port River, Adelaide was released in November 2023, following City Port Adelaide Enfield consideration of the Study. Council was advised at its…
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Community Engagement, Feb-June, 2024
in BlogFriends of Port River (FPR) are continuing the community engagement activities of the Estuary Care Foundation and have undertaken tours, speaking engagements and other activities: Feb 19th: Catherine McMahon and Steve Papp spoke to Urrbrae TAFE students, studying Conduct Intertidal Marine Monitoring. Steve and Catherine have been doing these lectures biannually since 2022. Feb 23rd:…
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Monitoring Marine Hitchhikers
in BlogIn January 2024 the Port Environment Centre hosted training for the Marine Hitchhikers of the Green Adelaide Region project, with lead researcher Janine Baker. Catherine McMahon, Friends of Port River attended the training and volunteered to assist the project. The Port River and Barker Inlet Estuary host many ‘marine hitchhikers’, the most prolific of which…