2021-09-13 GC Agenda - Item 11 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Oyster Project Annual Report 2

University of Sunshine Coast, Bring Back the Fish, 2018-2020
A three-year study which installed a series of experimental ‘reef units’ consisting of coir bags filled with oyster shell
at 15 sites across the estuary. The project studied the structural integrity, oyster recruitment, fish and invertebrate
community assemblages and human interactions with the reefs. This project collected important ecological
information that will support the final design and implementation of reef restoration in this Project. The project
promised the delivery of oyster reefs but failed to deliver on that promise. The coir bags used to contain the oyster
shells disintegrated rapidly, or were damaged, and became rapidly covered in silt in most locations. Coir bags were in
vogue at that time and were used throughout the world for restoration purposes. Due to their high biodegradability,
coir bags have largely been replaced with more durable products or alternative restoration methods.

NSC-TNC Partnership Agreement and Contract 2019
NSC and TNC, in addition to other organizations with an interest in the River’s sustainability (including Noosa Parks
Association, The Thomas Foundation and Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation), through a series of dialogue and
presentations to Noosa Shire Council, have recognized the strategic priorities of both organizations and of others
would be more effectively served through a formal partnership, rather than on an individual project basis. This
agreement led to the development of this project, and associated contract between NSC and TNC, and is the main
delivery mechanism of the TNC-NSC Partnership.

TNC Project Management Plan 2020
The TNC Project Management Plan including Communications Plan and Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER)
Plan was completed and independently peer-reviewed in 2020. It was presented to, and endorsed by Noosa Council
in July 2020.


Project overview
This project aims to restore oyster ecosystems in the Noosa River and with them, the multitude of benefits to people
and nature they provide. Past research projects demonstrated that the Noosa River estuary held the promise of
sufficient oyster recruitment and survival, and invertebrate colonization, at a number of locations to make the estuary
a viable place to pursue an oyster reef restoration project at scale.

The primary objective of the Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project (“The Project”) is to construct and restore
shellfish ecosystems to the Noosa River estuary. These oyster ecosystems will be here for the benefit of nature and
for people.

Historically, oyster-dominated ecosystems were prolific throughout the Noosa River estuary. These ecosystems (beds
and reefs) were created predominantly by Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) which formed three-
dimensional infrastructure in the river and attracted a myriad of species and their associated ecosystem functions.

The oyster ecosystems added extensive ‘natural infrastructure’ to the estuary and provided the estuary with a range
of environmental services including:
     -   Providing complex habitats for marine species such as fish, invertebrates, corals, ascidians, encrusting
         sponges and algae, and reef communities;
     -   Filtering sediment and pollution;
     -   Aiding bank stabilization and protection, and
     -   Providing complex vertical and horizonal living spaces, and feeding grounds, for a multitude of intertidal and
         marine creatures, which are today important for marine and coastal tourism activities such as fishing, diving
         and bird watching.




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