Tag: Port River
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AUKUS approval says community lose 50% open space, and seagrass
in BlogRecent approvals given by the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water (DCEEW) for the Osborne Submarine Construction Yard confirm that the AUKUS development will mean a loss of “approx. 50% of accessible public space within the northern area of the Lefevre Peninsula” and a loss of 3.5 hectares of seagrass. The…
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Emerging Living Shoreline at Yitpi Yartapuultiku
in BlogFPR has, since late 2024, assisted at Yitpi Yartapuultiku in establishing and monitoring the Living Shoreline, in collaboration with Council staff, Yitpi Yartapuultiku’s Cultural Ranger Willis Daveson and University of Adelaide student Michelle Holian. 240 mangrove seedlings were transplanted in November 2024 from Mutton Cove to Yitpi Yartapuultiku and through regular monitoring we saw that…
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Bream attracted to ROBS in Port River, Feb 2026OzFish delivers major expansion of Port River shellfish reef
in BlogAfter successfully trialing their Robust Oyster Baskets (ROBs) in the Port’s inner harbour, with native oyster spat colonising the ROBs, OzFish SA has just deployed another 1200 ROBs. These ROBs were built over the last two years by volunteers and comprise wire frames filled with clean Pacific oyster shells that attract spat, spawned by native…
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Carbon storage as vegetation changes along Port River
in BlogOur coastal ecosystems can store considerable amounts of ‘blue carbon’, acting as a natural climate solution. However, our local environment is dynamic, so how do losses and gains in vegetation affect blue carbon storage and dynamics? The University of Adelaide, with funds from Green Adelaide, investigated over 2024 and 2025 Zostera along Torrens Island Aerial…
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Work by Year 7 Ocean View students on display 19.11.2025Community Engagement
in BlogFriends of Port River are continuing our community engagement activities seeking to encourage greater understanding and support for the living Port River. In February 2026, through the Port Environment Centre, FPR briefed Year 12 students from Woodville High School about the Port River, and current restoration and monitoring activities and also presented to visiting US…
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Lipson North, 31st January 2024 and 5th January 2026FPR continues seagrass monitoring in 2026
in BlogWhen ECF (FPR’s predecessor) began seagrass monitoring along the western bank of Torrens Island in 2017 we were pleased to see natural recovery of intertidal seagrass (Zostera) south of the Torrens Island jetty. Zostera was monitored and present north of the jetty around 2012. FPR has designated sites that we’ve continued to visit and photograph…
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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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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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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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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…