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Coorong Infrastructure Investigations Project

Project objective

The objective of the Coorong Infrastructure Investigations Project is to investigate the feasibility of multiple long-term operational infrastructure options to improve the ecological health of the Coorong.

Project background

The hydrology of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth system has been dramatically altered over time.

Maintaining the long-term ecological health and resilience of the Coorong may not be achievable through improved knowledge and water resource optimisation alone.

There are very few tools available to operators to manage flows efficiently and effectively within the Coorong and in particular the Coorong South Lagoon.

Additional management options may be required, particularly in the face of climate change.

What is happening

Since 2020, the Coorong Infrastructure Investigations Project has engaged with community, First Nations and stakeholders through the Options, Investigations and Feasibility stages of the project to develop a significant evidence base regarding long-term management solutions.

Read more about the Coorong Infrastructure Investigations: Feasibility and Future Directions and works completed so far under the Coorong Infrastructure Investigations Project.

What are we doing?

Options Identification and Shortlisting

Over the past 2 decades, a range of major infrastructure and management options have been identified to improve water delivery to the Coorong for ecological benefit.

In Phase 1 of Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin, CIIP investigated and consulted on several possible long-term infrastructure solutions that would establish the baseline conditions required to restore a healthy Coorong. The Coorong Infrastructure Investigations: Feasibility and Future Directions document summarises the work undertaken by the project and outlines the 3 options which will be investigated further in Phase 2.

Infrastructure investigations

The feasibility investigations identified that variants of a connection between the Coorong South Lagoon and Southern Ocean have the most potential for improving the health of the Coorong South Lagoon. Therefore, the 3 concepts undergoing further investigation in Phase 2 all comprise a connection between the Coorong South Lagoon and Southern Ocean (with or without targeted dredging as a complementary action).

The Southern Ocean and the Younghusband Peninsula are unique environments that are of important ecological, cultural and economic significance to the region. Each infrastructure option therefore carries its own risks, potential impacts and complex construction and engineering challenges within a highly sensitive environment.

A key objective of CIIP is to provide a rigorous assessment of the potential adverse impacts and benefits each infrastructure option may present. Key activities to be undertaken during this next phase of CIIP include:

hydrodynamic, biogeochemical and ecological modelling and assessments
field investigations (cultural heritage, ground surveys and noise assessments)
establishing pre-construction environmental baseline conditions
assessing climate change scenarios and future considerations for infrastructure
collation of investigations to assess risks and potential social, environmental and economic impacts
determining potential planning and approval pathways required for each infrastructure option
developing preliminary designs and cost estimates

These investigations will be completed with the aim of identifying a single preferred infrastructure solution that optimises environmental, social, cultural and financial considerations, and provides benefit to the broader Coorong system.

CIIP remains an investigations project and no decision has been made to proceed with any particular option. Importantly, community, First Nations and stakeholder consultation will be a key focus as CIIP continues throughout Phase 2 of HCHB.

How can you get involved?

Sign up to receive Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin updates and opportunities, including citizen science activities and community consultations, or contact project.coorong@sa.gov.au.