#Strongwomen. "I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful – for all of it." Kristin Armstrong
The three arrows represent the choices communities face when they encounter a council that holds all the authority and none of the curiosity. The left and right paths symbolise the familiar reactions that come with frustration, blame or fatigue. The path labelled Forward shows something different. It marks the moment a community steps out of the noise and moves with clarity and principle. Forward is the empowerment choice. It is the reminder that while we cannot control council’s behaviour, we can control how we act, how we respond, our character and how we treat others. It is the road that stays true to who we are.
When council forgets who the power belongs to
Power imbalance appears when a council begins to behave as if authority is ownership. Information becomes selective. Access becomes conditional. The community is treated as an audience rather than the owner.
People feel the shift long before they name it. Straightforward questions turn into complicated pathways. Residents are managed instead of respected. Accountability starts to look optional.
How people get pushed toward the victim triangle
When the field is uneven, communities can slide into powerless roles. They feel dismissed or stonewalled and begin reacting from frustration, fatigue, or blame. This is a predictable response to a system that holds all the levers.
The moment a community shifts from powerless to unstoppable
The way back is the empowerment triangle
Communities regain their footing when they centre the only things they control: • how they act • how they respond • their character • how they treat others
This is where agency settles in. People organise. They ask precise questions. They document facts. They refuse drama. They stand in clarity rather than reaction. The power imbalance may still exist, but it no longer defines the community’s stance.
The simple principles that turn frustration into power
The shift that matters
Once people anchor themselves in principle, the dynamic changes. Council can still try to shape the story or slow the process, but they cannot control a community that knows its rights, its voice, and its values.
The forward road belongs to all of us – if we make courage a shared act And even though some people cannot speak openly because they depend on Council, the community can still walk that road together. Forward is not the loudest choice, it is the principled one. It is how we hold our ground, protect each other and keep insisting on the standards our local government was meant to uphold.
I also acknowledge advocating/truth-telling at this level is easier for me. Once their actions forced me to leave a job I loved, I don’t rely on Council for anything, and I know many people who want to speak up but worry they will be punished for it. We all know examples of that happening in our community.
Next time you stroll along Sydney’s waterfront, take a moment to appreciate the hidden ecosystems thriving on those once-grey walls—a testament to collaboration, vision, and the power of female-led initiatives
Living Seawall East Balmain
East Balmain
Living Seawall EastBalmain
Seawalls, those concrete barriers that protect our shores from erosion and rising tides, have long been seen as necessary but ecologically sterile structures. The Living Seawalls project challenges this perception. By installing specially designed panels on existing seawalls, the project creates habitat niches for marine organisms. These panels mimic natural rock surfaces, providing attachment points for algae, molluscs, and other marine life. In turn, these tiny pioneers attract larger species like fish and crabs, transforming the once barren walls into thriving ecosystems.
This innovative approach has not gone unnoticed. The Living Seawalls project won the NSW Banksia Biodiversity Award in 2021 and the National Award in 2022. The winners of the NSW Banksia Awards are part of a unique NSW alumni group that fosters opportunities for collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. This community allows award recipients to visit each other’s winning projects, exchange experiences, and build valuable connections, further amplifying the impact of their ground breaking work.
As a participant, I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It is refreshing to be part of an awards event that actively promotes teamwork and mutual benefit among its winners. This initiative not only celebrates individual achievements but also encourages collective growth and innovation, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
This week, the alumni gathered at Barangaroo, our world-class waterfront precinct in Sydney. Led by Professor Melanie Bishop, co-founder of Living Seawalls and a prominent coastal ecologist, this project aims to enhance marine biodiversity along urban coastlines by integrating nature-inspired designs into man-made structures.
Professor Melanie Bishop
From Waterman’s Cove, we boarded the ferry to East Balmain where we viewed a Living Seawall funded by private philanthropy. Professor Bishop shared more about the project’s origins and growth. Living Seawalls began as a research project, aiming to address the issue of biodiversity loss due to oceanic construction. Decades of small-scale experiments, often involving 20 by 20-centimetre panels with crevices and ridges, demonstrated that adding protective spaces to structures enhanced biodiversity. These experiments were part of the World Harbor Project, which included 26 sites globally and consistently showed that protective spaces were crucial for marine life.
Frustrated by the lack of real-world application, Professor Bishop and her team, including industrial designer Alex Goad from Reef Design Lab, scaled up their efforts. They secured a grant from the New South Wales government to develop a system for larger-scale installations, beginning with pilot sites in Sydney Harbour. Despite initial challenges with permits and scepticism, the successful installations drew attention and demand from various stakeholders.
The project has since leveraged its global research network to expand, with installations in Plymouth, UK, and upcoming projects in Boston Harbor. Other philanthropic supporters, such as the Lim Sutton initiative, have also been instrumental in helping Living Seawalls to scale.
The Harding Miller Foundation, which promotes educational opportunities for girls and was particularly interested in supporting the Living Seawalls female-led team.
The Harding Miller Foundation, founded by Kim Harding and Irene Miller, has a clear mission: to empower girls through education. Their commitment extends beyond traditional classrooms. When they learned about the Living Seawalls project, they recognised an opportunity to support both marine conservation and female-led scientific endeavours.
The Harding Miller Foundation played a crucial role by providing funding for the proof-of-concept work using small-scale experimental panels that provided the evidence base for scaling up. They were also strong advocates to the council for panel installation at Thornton Park, Balmain East. This support was instrumental in leveraging the NSW Environmental Trust Grant that funded the existing Balmain East installation. A NSW Recreational Fishing Trust Grant helps fund the monitoring and evaluation.
Here’s how the Harding Miller Foundation involvement unfolded:
Collaboration and Vision: The foundation collaborated closely with the Living Seawalls team and the Inner West Council. Their vision aligned perfectly with the project’s goals: to create sustainable habitats while fostering educational opportunities.
Thornton Park in Balmain: The foundation’s generous support enabled the installation of habitat panels along the seawall at Thornton Park in Balmain, a picturesque waterfront location. Here, the Harding Miller Foundation’s commitment to girls’ education intersected with environmental stewardship.
Beyond Balmain: The impact of their support extends beyond a single seawall. The Living Seawalls initiative has expanded to various locations across Sydney, including Milsons Point, Sawmillers Reserve, Blues Point, Clontarf, Fairlight, and Rushcutters Bay. The ongoing success owes much to continued philanthropic partnerships, including that of the Harding Miller Foundation.
The foundation’s interest in supporting female-led teams is evident in their endorsement of the Living Seawalls project. By backing a venture that combines science, engineering, and environmental conservation, they empower women to make a tangible difference. The project’s female scientists, engineers, and marine biologists exemplify the impact of gender diversity in STEM fields.
As the Harding Miller Foundation continues to champion educational opportunities for girls, their involvement in the Living Seawalls project serves as a beacon of hope. It reminds us that philanthropy can transcend traditional boundaries, creating a ripple effect that benefits our planet
From Balmain, the alumni continued their journey to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where Living Seawalls’ ecologically informed designs are showcased. This exhibition aims to spread the word that coastal structures can benefit both humans and nature. By integrating science, design, and conservation, these projects highlight how urban development and ecological health can coexist harmoniously, inspiring future innovations in coastal management. It was a fitting conclusion to a day filled with learning and collaboration, reinforcing our shared commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
Next time you stroll along Sydney’s waterfront, take a moment to appreciate the hidden ecosystems thriving on those once-gray walls—a testament to collaboration, vision, and the power of female-led initiatives
The three arrows represent the choices communities face when they encounter a council that holds all the authority and none of the curiosity. The left and right paths symbolise the familiar reactions that come with frustration, blame or fatigue. The path labelled Forward shows something different. It marks the moment a community steps out of the noise and moves with clarity and principle. Forward is the empowerment choice. It is the reminder that while we cannot control council’s behaviour, we can control how we act, how we respond, our character and how we treat others. It is the road that stays true to who we are.
