Initial bank protection work at Gereeba Island using coir logs and mangrove planting was only partially successful with most mangroves surviving but the coir logs disintegrating or being washed away. To ensure the young mangroves weren’t washed away the project trialled new ways of placing waste shell from oyster production along the bank to provide wave protection. Live oysters harvested from oyster leases were also added to encourage and possibly accelerate the creation of a living structure. Site monitoring is being done by Hunter LLS, TIDE and the University of Newcastle and results are promising with live oysters surviving and growing and the structure continuing to protect the young mangroves and the riverbank.