In June of this year, members of the coastal engineering community converged on the city of Melbourne for a workshop that broke new ground by focusing on the potential of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Australia. ICM, which has been one of the nation's top specialists on NBS since the 1980s and brought with it decades of expertise and vast project experience, was one of the organisations that took part in the discussion.
ICM was one of the first organisations in Australia to implement NBS, beginning with more modest research-focused projects and progressing to larger-scale regional initiatives.
During the event, participants discussed one of our most noteworthy initiatives, which involved the nearshore nourishment of broad areas of the Gold Coast. In addition, our oyster project in Noosa was commended for its approach to coastal management, which earned the initiative national attention.
Sam King, who will be delivering a paper on NBS and Oyster Shellfish Reef Restoration in the Noosa River at the next Australasian Coast and Ports conference, stated that "ICM is not just a participant in the discussion on NBS, we're leading it." He also states, "We are committed to driving the future of this field, as well as contributing to effective NBS implementation strategies and regulations in Australia."
As a business, we have faith in the ability of NBS to provide solutions to important problems related to coastal management. NBS offer environmentally friendly solutions to the growing problem of coastal risks and the destruction of coastal ecosystems. They make use of natural resources and processes to develop solutions that are durable, flexible, and sustainable over the long term.
It is not only a matter of engineering; rather, it is a matter of cooperating with nature rather than competing against it.
Nevertheless, this is not the end of our job. ICM is continuing to push the limits of what is possible with NBS, both in Australia and around the world. We are in the process of deploying NBS solutions in our ongoing projects located all across Australia, and we are ready to get started on a huge pilot project located in California.
We are overjoyed to have been acknowledged as leaders in NBS, and we are looking forward towards a future in which our coasts are sustainable and resilient. We are only getting started in the NBS space, so make sure you stay tuned for more information on our forthcoming initiatives and advances in NBS.