Yitpi Yartapuultiku’s Living Shoreline

In 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 at the northern and southern ends of the site.

Now planting of the Living Shoreline has begun, with the Living Shoreline to profile the intertidal plants that live along the Port River; initially mangroves and then saltmarsh further up the shoreline.

Mangrove seedlings were sourced at Mutton Cove (with Native Vegetation approval) on November 1^st and 4^th and on the same day transferred to and transplanted at Yitpi Yartapuultiku. The seedlings were planted in a grid pattern, devised by the University of Adelaide, to enable monitoring of the seedlings’ survival and progress. Monitoring has also occurred, and will continue, of the creatures (infauna) that live in the shoreline.

Importantly the low tides, on Nov 1 & 4, made visible local seagrass (Zostera) on the mudflats beyond the mangrove planting, closer to the River channel. While Zostera is found on the banks of Torrens Island, it’s very encouraging to find it in the inner harbour.

Staff of City PAE, researchers from the University of Adelaide, and local volunteers coordinated by the Friends of Port River, sourced the mangrove seedlings, transplanted them and will undertake monitoring into 2025. Clontarf students assisted with the transplanting on November 1^st.

The monitoring program, developed by University of Adelaide Masters student Shelley Holian with supervisor Dr Dom Mcafee, focuses on whether the plant is present, dead or alive, its height, leaf count and % of green (healthy) leaves. Monitoring will initially occur between November 2024 and April 2025. Further monitoring can recommence in October 2025 when the return of spring tides will enable access to the shoreline and the counting and measuring etc of the seedlings.

The Federal Government’s Urban Catchments and Waterways program is providing $2,318,500 to establish the Living Shoreline, honouring an election commitment made by Mark Butler MP in 2022. The funding is being administered by Green Adelaide on behalf of the Commonwealth.