Our globally recognised Dell Eco
Reef at Clifton Springs has taken out the ‘Excellence in Marine and
Coastal Design or Development’ award at last night’s Victorian Marine and
Coastal Awards.
The
annual awards bring together the state’s marine and coastal sector to celebrate
our treasured coast and the people and organisations contributing to
sustainably managing and protecting it.
The
‘Excellence in Marine and Coastal Design or Development’ category recognises projects
and initiatives that showcase innovative, leading practice in marine and/or
coastal design or development, in line with the principles of the Marine and
Coastal Act 2018.
This special reef was
designed by Reef Design Lab’s Alex Goad in collaboration with our Strategic Coastal
Planner Ralph Roob to reduce coastal erosion and create a habitat for marine
life.
The 46
Erosion Mitigation Units, made of eco-friendly concrete and recycled shells,
are a hit with local and visiting recreational snorkelers and swimmers.
As
part of Geelong Design Week, community members will have the opportunity to
view the intricate details and engineering behind these clever and creative units and see how human creativity can
positively impact the environment.
The
free exhibition will be held at 60 Brougham Street, Geelong every day
during the festival from 21-30
November.
The Dell Eco Reef has
won multiple prestigious awards such as the international Dezeen Award for
Sustainable Design (Building Product) of the Year 2023 and 2024 Victorian LGPro
Awards for Excellence.
City of Greater
Geelong’s Strategic Coastal Planner Ralph Roob
The sculptural reef was inspired
by nature's own reef structures.
The Dell Eco Reef provides
essential habitats for marine life, enhancing biodiversity while protecting
vulnerable species.
These eco-reefs have
been carefully designed to not only protect the coast from severe wave action
and create marine habitats, but also withstand various environmental conditions.
The units are providing
a tourism drawcard and demonstrating how art, design, and environmental science
can come together to create positive outcomes.
We are honoured by this
award and thank the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council for recognising the
City of Greater Geelong and such an important project for our region’s
environmental resilience.
The Dell Eco Reef project adds to the multi
award-winning Ramblers
Reef at Portarlington as examples of the
City’s innovative efforts to mitigate coastal erosion and storm surges with
environmentally sustainable solutions.