Field Trips will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 5 November and included in the full registration fee and Thursday day registration.
FT1: Lake Illawarra
This bus field trip explores a diverse range of sites around Lake Illawarra, highlighting key environmental management initiatives and ongoing coastal challenges. Delegates will examine best-practice wetland restoration, including saltmarsh rehabilitation and access management, alongside riparian and foreshore improvement works. The tour will also showcase integrated stormwater treatment approaches, such as constructed wetlands and bioretention systems. Visits to the lake entrance breakwaters and active foreshore erosion areas will provide a platform to discuss coastal processes, risk management, and adaptive responses required to manage the Lake’s dynamic and highly valued coastal environment.
FT2: Shellharbour Open Coast and Elliott Lake
This bus and walking field trip offers an immersive, on-ground exploration of Shellharbour’s open coast and the Elliott Lake entrance, showcasing the dynamic interaction between coastal processes and community assets. Delegates will visit a series of significant social, environmental, and cultural sites, examining how high-energy wave climates and coastal hazards have shaped this coastline and driven management responses. Key stops include Shellharbour Village—featuring the heritage breakwater and ocean pool—coastal dune restoration sites at Shellharbour North Beach and Warilla Beach, and critical infrastructure such as the Warilla Beach Seawall and the trained entrance at Elliott Lake. The tour will highlight adaptive approaches to erosion management, dune stabilisation, and long-term coastal resilience. The tour will end at Windang Island, a culturally significant site for the Dharawal people.
FT3: The Shell Cove Marina and South Shellharbour Beach
This field trip examines coastal management within a highly modified and adjacent natural coastal system. At Shell Cove Marina, participants will explore the planning, design, and delivery of a large-scale coastal infrastructure project, including considerations of coastal processes, harbour protection, engineering challenges and long-term asset resilience. Moving to South Shellharbour Beach, focus shifts to shoreline dynamics, sediment transport, and beach response in the context of nearby engineered works. The tour will conclude at the beach where delegates will view the recently reconstructed and revegetated dune system created using dredged Marina entrance sand. Discussions will highlight integration of development and coastal processes, monitoring requirements, and adaptive management under the Coastal Management Act 2016, providing practical insights for managing complex, mixed-use coastal environments.
FT4: Bass Point and Killalea
This bus and walking field trip explores some of the Illawarra’s most significant coastal environments, highlighting practical coastal management in a Littoral Rainforest, Aquatic Reserve, and a State Park. At Bass Point Reserve, delegates will learn about the restoration of sensitive ecosystems, hear about the excellent Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve and challenges it faces, with key consideration of Cultural Heritage as well management of erosion, & access discussed. At Killalea Regional Park (The Farm), focus shifts to high-use recreational beaches, famous for world-class surf breaks, camping, fishing and beach walks. Delegates will learn of the management and integration of environmental and cultural values, with practical management as the park has transitioned into the care of National Parks and Wildlife Services.
