The official opening of the new section of the Glebe Foreshore Walk on Saturday 25 October was a fun occasion and the improved link to the Fish Market is welcomed by the community. But it is not just humans who will benefit from this section of the walk.

One of the 20 sea pots installed along the Glebe foreshore to provide an artificial refuge for marine flora and fauna. (image: University of Sydney)
One of the 20 sea pots installed along the Glebe foreshore to provide an artificial refuge for marine flora and fauna. (image: University of Sydney)

The City of Sydney has included in the landscaping design a number of features to provide improved habitat for both plant and animal life. As well as planting hundreds of shrubs and native grasses to provide habitat for small birds and animals, the edge of the foreshore has been improved to create saltwater mangroves and endangered coastal salt marsh habitats.

Perhaps the most interesting feature from an environmental point of view is the design of the sea wall which incorporates small ledges and niches to provide habitat for marine life. The design has been influenced by the work of a Green Engineering Research project at Sydney University. The project has already installed 20 concrete pots on the Glebe foreshore sea wall to provide artificial rock pools for a range of marine flora and fauna. Signs have now been set up along the foreshore walk to help you find where the pots are installed. The new wall design, however, enables habitat to be created without any ‘add on’ structures.

The effectiveness of the project is being monitored by underwater CCTV cameras, and we look forward to future reports on the outcomes.