by woppaburra
A culturally inspired oyster reef installation at Balban Dara Guya (Leekes Creek) on Woppa (Great Keppel Island) marks a first of it’s kind in Australia as part of a broader wetland restoration project aimed at healing vegetation, waterways and Sea Country.
The installation forms part of the Restoration for Balban Dara Guya and Putney Beach project, a collaborative initiative restoring 77 hectares of mangroves, salt marsh and shellfish reef ecosystems on Woppa. The project commenced in June 2024 and is led by Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation (WTAC) in partnership with Ecosure and assisted by OzFish and CQ University.
Ozfish and Ecosure staff worked alongside the Woppaburra, Yuwi, Gidarjil and Darumbal Indigenous ranger groups to install oyster reef structures at a culturally significant site within Leeke’s Creek.
Culture guiding restoration
The oyster reef restoration site has been laid out using a culturally inspired design developed by Woppaburra artist Debra Witteman, whose artwork reflects traditional gathering places and the movement of people across Land and Sea Country.
The Woppaburra people see the circles as representing where our people would meet and the lines show our people traversing the waters between our islands, connecting with one another and with Country. Ms. Witteman’s design was informed by drone imagery and the surrounding mangrove systems, guiding the placement of the reef structures, blending cultural storytelling with ecological restoration. “For this work to happen on my own people’s Country, at a place our people have gathered for generations, is especially meaningful,” Ms Witteman said.
Restoring waku
Woppaburra Operations Manager Dr Sonny Van Issum said, waku (oysters) have been sustainably harvested from Leeke’s Creek by Woppaburra people for millennia. “Waku hold deep cultural significance,” he said. “They are a food source, but are also used in jewellery making and men’s ceremonies.” “Over the past 150 years, shellfish reefs were heavily degraded due to overharvesting. This project is about bringing them back.”
Baseline assessments at Balban Dara Guya identified six shellfish species, including healthy populations of longbums (Telescopium telescopium), an important traditional food source.
Science supporting Country
Up to 100 Robust Oyster Baskets (ROBs) made from recycled oyster shell and metal cages were installed to form the foundation of new shellfish reefs. Once established, the reefs are expected to improve water quality, provide a habitat for fish and invertebrates, and support broader wetland health.
OzFish’s Robbie Porter said, “Shellfish reefs provide food and homes to fish and other creatures. They also improve water quality, can protect coastlines from erosion and reduce the effects of climate change.” Oyster reef installation has become a key strategy for waterway restoration in Australia, used in saltwater projects across the nation.
Looking to the Future
“This partnership is about healing and hope,” stated Angela Barney-Leitch, Chairperson of the Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation. “It’s about respecting our responsibilities as custodians and making sure these waters remain healthy and vibrant for future generations to come. This restoration effort not only revives essential habitats but also fosters cultural resilience, employment opportunities and community leadership for ongoing care of Woppaburra Land and Sea Country.”
“We’re proud to walk alongside Ecosure and our partners on Woppa to restore these culturally significant ecosystems for the long term,” she said. “This project is about more than restoration, it’s about reconnection,” said Diane Lanyon, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ecosure. “By bringing together Traditional Ecological Knowledge and scientific methods, we’re supporting the long-term healing of Country and People, while strengthening pathways for future generations.”
Acknowledgement
This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Reef Trust Partnership with ongoing support from Indigenous Land and Sea Country Ranger program, Livingstone Shire Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development.