2020-07-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - TNC Project Management Plan

Within Phase II, the following outputs are expected to be achieved:
   • Restoration works completed at two restoration sites (approx. 40 m - 50 m shore length per site) which
        examines design and oyster growth and survival.
   • Monitoring and evaluation study, with monitoring to include oyster metrics, invertebrates and fish use
        (detailed in MER plan).
   • Engage community members in citizen science and/or restoration activities.
   • Promotion of project and objectives to wider community through the media; and
   • Improve skills and confidence of local partners/community in delivering large scale marine restoration
        projects.

The ecological objective of Phase II is to establish a viable breeding population of native rock oysters that can form
the basis of self-sustaining shellfish ecosystems in the future. At this scale, the aim is to make a measurable
difference to fish abundance and the productivity of the Noosa River estuary at the site scale – which are long-
term outcomes coveted by the local Noosa community, visitors and government.


Notionally, a composite substrate, on which oysters and other invertebrates will settle and grow, will be
comprised primarily of locally-sourced rock/rubble and dried oyster shell will be laid in configurations specific to
each site, but which will be deployed, from a barge, with the following dimensions:

   •    Row dimensions: 0.1 – 0.3 H x 4 - 5 W x 40-50 L (metres) – in single line or patch configurations,
        depending on the nature of each site)
   •    Total Substrate Area: 400 m2seafloor area will be restored
   •    Substrate sinkage: 200 millimeters tolerance (to be determined)
   •    Volume of substrate: TBD

The outcomes of Phase II will demonstrate the environmental, social and economic benefits of undertaking
shellfish ecosystem restoration in QLD estuaries whilst also providing tangible environmental and social benefits
to the local community.

Phase 3 (2020-2022 and beyond)
Phase 3 will seek to undertake system (estuary)-wide restoration using an assisted restoration approach, whereby
shellfish ecosystems (a further 600 m2 of aggregated reef substrate) are restored at multiple locations throughout
the estuary.

Additionally, the project will explore and test the feasibility to restore seagrass habitats in Lake Cooroibah (and
potentially elsewhere) to reduce sediment resuspension and increase invertebrate and fish biomass in the
estuary.

The long-term goal of Phase III is to measurably improve the health (including fish productivity and water quality)
of the entire estuary (i.e. at the system or estuary scale) of the Noosa river, thereby increasing the environmental,
social and economic benefits provided by the estuary to the local community (with a focus on benefits to shellfish
aquaculture, fisheries and ecotourism industries as well as amenity and recreational value for the local
community).

Project team
The following is a list of the core group of practitioners who are responsible for designing, implementing, and
monitoring the restoration sites:

Craig Bohm, The Nature Conservancy - Project Coordinator - Responsible for monitoring design, planning and
overall project coordination
Dr. Simon Reeves, The Nature Conservancy – Monitoring Manager - Responsible for managing data collection and
analysis and coordinating the diving plan (see Appendix 1), Reef Life Survey, oyster density/growth fieldwork and
Report cards
Simon Branigan, The Nature Conservancy – Operations Manager (Oceans) – Responsible for oversite of project
delivery and technical advisor.

57 | Bring Back the Fish MER plan 2020 – 2022