To support Seqwater’s commitment to sustainable recreation and water quality protection across its 57 managed recreation sites, EcoFutures led the development of the Riparian Shoreline Assessment Planting Guide. Seqwater’s recreation areas accommodate a wide range of activities, but extensive public access, shoreline mowing, and natural forces such as wave action and fluctuating water levels have contributed to erosion and sedimentation issues that threaten drinking water quality and ecological health.

In response, the Guide offers a practical framework to restore riparian buffers and manage access without compromising recreation. It outlines strategies for establishing healthy, site-appropriate native vegetation aligned with regional ecosystems, while also considering ongoing recreational use. The guide supports the reduction of mowing zones, improved water quality outcomes, and enhanced biodiversity through habitat creation.

It promotes nature-based solutions, such as revegetation and soft engineering, to address erosion, and provides consistent, organisation-wide guidance for planning and implementation. Developed in collaboration with Seqwater’s Source Protection Planning and Recreation and Catchment Services teams, the Guide enables more efficient, resilient, and ecologically sound shoreline management.