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I recently returned to my previous school to work with new Geography teachers in the HSIE faculty to develop their 7-10 fieldwork scope and sequence and develop options for teacher-led fieldwork on and around the Bay Run. While I was there, I was able to visit the site of the Balmain Foreshore Project (links to previous posts below) to see the progress of the Living Seawalls installed at the end of 2023. Below are photos taken which demonstrate the progress of organism recruitment on the panels. For each of the Living Seawalls panels you can click through three photos - the first, when the panels were first installed in November 2023; the second, in September 2024; and the third photo in each series shows the most recently photo taken in August 2025. I was happy to be able to revisit the school and handover the Balmain Foreshore Project to a new team of teachers to see this project continue with a new group of students later in the year. There are also plans for a similar project to take place at a neighbouring schools which should begin later in the year. 
This is one of several posts about our Balmain Foreshore Project. Read more...
Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey Balmain Foreshore Project - Launch and 2023 Reflection Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024 Find resources to support teaching about Living Seawalls on The Harbour School Sydney website,
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On 7 December, a community event was held to celebrate the success of the Balmain Foreshore Project and to meet accountabilities related to funds received. The event was attended by representatives from the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Living Seawalls, Transurban - West Connex Community Grants as well as teachers and students from the school. The event kicked off with a team of staff from the Australian National Maritime Museum towing the restored and fitted student-built St Ayles skiff and staff having a row around the bay. One of our staff on the Balmain Foreshore Project Team helped students demonstrate the use of the underwater drones for our guests, we showed our guests the new Living Seawall panels and the Jarrett backsaver crane and educational signage. The project was only successful as a result of a team of motivated, likeminded staff that came together regularly to assess progress, make adjustments to the program, engage with experts in a range of relevant fields and work towards keeping students engaged in the project. We were lucky enough to have ongoing support from a range of organisations who assisted us as we explored the directions of the project, as well as the logistics of installing the various components. The project wouldn't have been possible without the support of The Australian Museum, Living Seawalls, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Harding-Miller Foundation for their input during the project. The project was mostly funded by the Transurban through a community grant. The Balmain Foreshore Project website has also been launched, where you can read about the various components of the project as well as its links with teaching and learning: Balmain Foreshore Project
 This is one of several posts about our Balmain Foreshore Project. Read more... Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey Balmain Foreshore Project - Launch and 2023 Reflection Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024 Balmain Foreshore Project - 2025 Update Students in our Year 10 Enrichment class are currently undertaking the Balmain Foreshore Project, a cross curriculum unit of work in Geography and Science. Implementing the project The first full implementation of the project occurred during the second half of Term 1, 2023. It will result in a separate teaching and learning program for our Enrichment class (a class designed specifically to cater for HPGE students), including different content and learning activities. The students will also have a differentiated assessment task. Students were led through initial discussions about the main aim of the project - a focus on research and hands-on application of research to rehabilitate a section of Balmain foreshore on school grounds. In this iteration of the project, students focused on extent and quality of mangroves in the area. An important part of this project has been making Geography come alive as a subject - engaging students actively in physical activity, getting out of the classroom and engaging in practical activities. Students kayaked from the school grounds to observe and test mangroves on the foreshore at Rodd Point. They undertook monitoring of mangroves using GPS mapping, water testing, field sketches, underwater and aerial drone activities, photography and observation.   Students undertook a weed assessment on site at the school and and some weed removal, completed a rubbish count and analysis of types of rubbish around the foreshore and during the school's participation in Clean Up Australia Day, the class did their clean up focused in the foreshore area of the school.
Students participated in a workshop with Jenny Newell, the Climate Change Curator at the Australian Museum. The group was involved in a discussion of the global context of environmental change and management including climate change and the sensitivity of environments, global actions that address climate change and personal responsibility around environmental issues. They also explored how the Balmain Foreshore Project, a local initiative, fits into this wider context, and how they can make a positive contribution to their community. Students also met with Charles Scarf, Environment Manager with Rozelle Interchange/Western Harbour Tunnel. He spoke about their project and the environmental impact process they had to follow to get approval, as well as how both science and geography investigation is used in the project and the careers opportunities in this kind of field. This is one of several posts about our Balmain Foreshore Project. Read more... Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024 Balmain Foreshore Project - 2025 Update Read related article: Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction about a cross curriculum project that I am co-leading with our Head Teacher HSIE Mitch Arvidson and several other teachers. In Term 4, a range of trial activities were run for the Balmain Foreshore Project, following the end of formal assessment tasks for Year 10 in Term 4. This time period was chosen for the trial activities because it is a low risk, low stakes period, and enabled teachers to experiment without impacting on report results, exams, etc. These included individual, hands on activities, excursions and a guest presenter. Only limited teaching of content occurred during the trial due to limited time available. The first full implementation of the project is proposed for the second half of Term 1, 2023. It will result in a separate teaching and learning program for the Enrichment class, including different content, learning activities, etc. The students will also have a differentiated assessment task. In this trial period, students have assessed the focus area, which is on the border fo the school. They have completed an environmental assessment and undertaken field sketches.
Groups of students undertook aerial surveys of the focus area with the school's drones. These are intended to be used by students in future year groups to undertake comparisons to determine change over time. In total, around 20 aerial photos were taken as well as some video footage.
Students went on an excursion to Cockatoo Island to learn about the history of the harbour and the different ways that the harbour has been used.
Students undertook monitoring of local mangroves using GPS mapping, photography and observation.
These trial activities were undertaken to study the Balmain Foreshore in the context of examining Environmental Change and Management (Year 10) of Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River but could also be used for studying Biomes (Year 9).
This is one of several posts about our Balmain Foreshore Project. Read more... Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024 Balmain Foreshore Project - 2025 Update What is the aim of the Balmain Foreshore Project?
The aim of the Balmain Foreshore Project is an initiative to provide a more specialised program involving more challenge and differentiation to extend and engage students in our Enrichment class. It involves the development of a cross-curriculum unit of work, incorporating critical thinking and focusing on research and hands-on application of research to rehabilitate a section of Balmain foreshore on school grounds. The project has been design in collaboration with the Head Teacher HSIE. How does the project use Professional Learning Networks? The project will be facilitated by professional learning of a group of teachers through creating a professional learning network with staff in a number of organisations to draw on expertise and access research to support the development of learning activities, and build teacher capacity. Advice was sought from a range of experts in the initial phase including Jenny Newell, the climate curator from the Australian Museum, Tim Flannery from the Climate Council, and Dr Jenni Mallela from the Australian National University. In addition to making direct professional connections, staff have used social media to learn about related programs and initiatives such as Operation Posidonia, Operation Crayweed and Operation Straw. How will the project shape teaching and learning? The project will result in the creation of a specific teaching and learning program for the Stage 5 Enrichment class which focuses on the core subjects of Geography and Science, but draws on expertise developed in various subjects. The project will engage students in practical, hands on learning, create a community connection by involving students in the monitoring and rehabilitation of a local environment, meaningfully engage students with wider political/community discussions and issues, and provide a solutions focus - not focusing only on problems, but how students can bring about positive change and be active citizens. How will the project address real world issues? The Balmain Foreshore Project provides opportunities for students to engage in multi-week projects which address environmental issues in our community. The plan of the project is for students in Year 9 and 10 in Geography topics such as Biomes and Environmental Change and Management to engage in a single monitoring and rehabilitation project. Each year group and each year will have the opportunity to choose a focus from issues such as marine pollution, sustainable moorings, seawall panels, IBC aquaponics, seagrass planting, seahorse hotels or cray weed planting. This is one of several posts about our Balmain Foreshore Project. Read more... Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024 Balmain Foreshore Project - 2025 Update |
