MEMS on show at the NSW Coastal Conference

Delegates from across the NSW coast converged on Newcastle to share their knowledge on all things coastal at the joint NSW Coastal and National Coast to Coast Conference in early November.

Newcastle was a perfect spot to host the conference as it faces many of the coastal challenges discussed at the conference such as beach erosion, sea level rise, storm vulnerability, dune restoration and shipping.

Attendees of the conference included a wide range of people from local, state and federal government, universities, industries, community groups and NGOs, coming together to share their passion and learn about coastal environments.

The conference was an excellent opportunity to share the great projects that MEMS is delivering and demonstrate the collaboration between government agencies.

The MEMS projects showcased at the conference included:

• The NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy explained - Nicola Johnstone, DPI Fisheries
• NSW estuary monitoring program - Colin Johnson, Department of Planning and Environment
• Coastal floodplain prioritisation studies - Kylie Russel, DPI Fisheries
• Oyster reef restoration community engagement - Jillian Keating, DPI Fisheries
• Oyster reefs restoration research monitoring results - Jillian Keating and Victoria Cole, DPI Fisheries
• The Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline Project - Jillian Keating DPI Fisheries
• Water quality testing at Avoca Lagoon - Michael Orr, DPE - Science Economics and Insights
• Update on the Crown Lands dredging audit - Danny Bucher, Crown Lands
• Release of the Crown Lands Breakwater Management Guidelines - David Kirby, Crown Lands
• Mapping mangrove and saltmarsh distribution in NSW estuaries - Tim Glasby, DPI Fisheries
• Citizen science Southern Right Whale ID program - Andy Marshall and Adelaide Dedden, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services Marine Wildlife team in NPWS
• Updates to the NSW water quality objectives - Ari Comben and Katherine McClellan, DPE - Science Economics and Insights
• Goals of the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program - Gwenael Cadiou, DPI Fisheries

Our MEMS stall attracted lots of interest from conference delegates.

We also had the MEMS supported Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline (WILS) project taking out the 2023 NSW Coastal Management Award for Innovation at the conference.

Thank you to NSW Coastal and National Coast to Coast Conference for this opportunity for our staff to share their work in all aspects of coastal, estuarine and marine management and learn more from delegates from across NSW.