The Living Seawalls project has been awarded the 2025 Eureka Prize for Environmental Research by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
According to the SIMS web page, “This award recognizes the project’s innovative approach to eco-engineering marine infrastructure, which has transformed the way we think about seawalls and other built structures.
“The Living Seawalls team, a collaboration between Macquarie University, UNSW, and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, has developed eco-engineered panels that mimic natural shorelines, providing habitat for marine life and enhancing biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience in urban waterways. The project’s work has already made a measurable impact in Sydney Harbour, where 115 species were recorded living on the modules, a 20% increase compared to unmodified seawalls. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication to turning research into applied solutions\ and building a future coastline that benefits both humans and nature.”
As reported at https://www.estuary.org.au/2020/02/living-seawall-tiles-installed/ , a Living Seawall has been located in the Port River in Port Adelaide since early 2020.
(Photo taken by Kym Murphy. Source: https://www.estuary.org.au/2020/02/living-seawall-tiles-installed/ )
According to the web page “A Living Seawall Tiles trial is now underway on the Port River shoreline, joining other trials in Sydney Harbour, Townsville and Singapore. The tiles are designed using 3d printing technology and they mimic ecological processes…… The tiles are fully visible at very low tides and/or check out what marine life is visiting the tiles and settling on them when they’re submerged. The Port River tiles ….. are located by the pontoon ….. just west of the Lighthouse.”
(Source: https://www.estuary.org.au/2020/02/living-seawall-tiles-installed/ )