sea-grass

Sandbagging for Cyclone Narelle

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:25:02 GMT

Key Takeaways for Cyclone Preparedness:

Automation Saves Time: Machines can fill 500+ bags per hour, vastly outperforming manual labour during emergencies.
Consistency is Key: Uniformly filled bags create more stable and effective flood barriers against storm surges.
Community Coordination: Centralised filling stations allow for a smoother logistical flow for residents and SES workers.
Ecological Protection: Stabilising the coastline with sandbags prevents sediment runoff that can damage seagrass nurseries.
Volunteer Safety: Reducing the need for manual shovelling prevents physical exhaustion and long-term strain for the local workforce.

By reflecting on the response to Narelle, we can better prepare for future weather events, ensuring that Monkey Mia remains a safe and beautiful environment for both its human residents and its vital marine ecosystems.

Why is rapid sandbagging vital for Monkey Mia?

Monkey Mia is a unique geographical location, famous for its shallow waters and vibrant marine life. However, these same features make it particularly vulnerable to storm surges. Unlike steep, rocky coastlines that can absorb the energy of a swell, the gentle slopes and sandy beaches of Shark Bay offer little resistance to a rising sea level. A storm surge associated with a cyclone like Narelle can push water hundreds of metres inland, threatening not only the tourism infrastructure but also the delicate balance of the coastal ecosystem.

Rapid sandbagging is vital here because it provides a temporary, removable levee that can protect specific high-value areas. Whether it is the local research facilities, the visitor centres, or the residential areas, having the ability to deploy thousands of bags in a single afternoon can be the difference between a successful recovery and a multi-million dollar disaster. Furthermore, sandbags can be used to divert runoff, preventing contaminated land water from flowing directly into the pristine bay, which is a key concern for any organisation dedicated to marine conservation.

Protecting our local seagrass habitats

While most people associate sandbags with protecting houses and businesses, our organisation views them as a tool for ecological preservation. As a not-for-profit focused on seagrass restoration, we understand that a major storm event can undo years of hard work in a matter of hours. When a cyclone hits, the intense wave action and sediment displacement can uproot seagrass seedlings and destroy the nurseries we have carefully cultivated on the sea floor. By using sandbags to stabilise the shoreline and reduce the amount of sediment being washed out to sea, we help maintain the water clarity that seagrass needs to thrive.

Seagrass is the lungs of our bay; it provides oxygen, sequesters carbon, and serves as a primary food source for the local dugong population. Protecting the coastline during a cyclone is therefore a holistic endeavour. If the land is protected, the near-shore environment suffers less trauma. The sandbagging machine, while a piece of industrial equipment, serves a deeply environmental purpose by ensuring the stability of the land-sea interface during extreme weather events. If you have questions about how we integrate emergency response with conservation, please visit our Contact page.

How did Narelle impact the Shark Bay community?

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle was a formidable weather system that tracked down the Western Australian coast, bringing with it the threat of destructive winds and, more importantly for the low-lying areas of Monkey Mia, a dangerous storm surge. For those living in the Shark Bay region, the memory of such events remains a reminder of the raw power of the Indian Ocean. The impact of Narelle was felt most through the anticipation of its path; as a Category 4 system at its peak, the potential for coastal inundation was high. Residents were tasked with securing their properties against both wind and water, a dual-fronted battle that requires significant preparation time.

The Shark Bay community is tight-knit, but even the strongest community spirit can be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work required to prepare for a cyclone of this magnitude. When the alert levels rose, the call went out for volunteers to assist the SES. The sandbagging machine became the focal point of this effort. Instead of a chaotic scene of individuals struggling with shovels, the operation was streamlined and orderly. It allowed for a centralised distribution point where residents could drive up, load their vehicles with pre-filled bags, and return to their homes to secure their perimeters. This organised response reduced community anxiety significantly, providing a tangible sense of security during a period of extreme uncertainty. Understanding our local history and our mission is essential, and you can find more detail on our About page.

Efficiency in emergency response

The shift from manual labour to mechanical assistance during the Narelle response highlighted several key efficiencies. Firstly, the consistency of the sandbags produced by the machine is far superior to those filled by hand. When sandbags are used to build a wall, uniform weight and volume are crucial for stability. Hand-filled bags vary wildly, creating gaps in the barrier where water can seep through. The machine ensures that every bag is filled to the optimal level, creating a more effective seal against rising tides and flash flooding.

Secondly, the logistical flow of the emergency response was greatly improved. Because the machine could keep up with the demand, there were no long queues or frustrated residents waiting for supplies. This efficiency allowed SES workers to focus their attention on other high-priority tasks, such as clearing drainage systems and assisting the elderly with property tie-downs. The use of the machine manned by volunteers proved that technology, when paired with a willing community, can multiply the effectiveness of an emergency response tenfold. This level of coordination is something we strive for in all our environmental projects, including our seagrass restoration efforts which you can support via our Corporate Sponsors section.

Filling thousands of bags in preparation for potential impact of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

In the past, sandbags were filled manually, a time-consuming and arduous task. However, the introduction of the sandbagging machine operated by volunteers and State Emergency Service workers provided a steady stream of sandbags, which were collected by both residents and Shire workers. Consequently, buildings in Monkey Mia and Denham were fortified to prepare for the expected rainfall and tidal surge as the cyclone moved through the Bay.

Historically, filling a single sandbag by hand with a shovel takes a fit individual approximately one to two minutes. When you consider that a standard residential barrier might require hundreds of bags, and a community-wide protection effort requires tens of thousands, the manual approach often falls short of the demand. The sandbagging machine used during the threat of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle could produce bags at a rate of roughly 500 to 800 per hour depending on the number of chutes in operation. This efficiency ensures that the State Emergency Service (SES) and local volunteers can provide a steady stream of protection for both private homes and public infrastructure without the risk of physical exhaustion or repetitive strain injuries. You can read more about our community initiatives on our News page.

2026 Seagrass Update

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 23:48:29 GMT

Latest update for 2026

Our ongoing seagrass restoration efforts in Shark Bay have been making incredible strides, and we’re excited to share some major updates!

Recently, we conducted successful monitoring dives in collaboration with the University of Western Australia (UWA). There findings will be put into report soon.

We deployed a drop camera, and the footage revealed some amazing findings! We spotted a range of marine life, including shovel-nose sharks, various fish species, crabs, and even a friendly pufferfish who made an appearance. These discoveries are a clear sign of the progress we're making in creating a healthier ecosystem!

In addition to our restoration work, we recently teamed up with Ocean Park and the Malgana Rangers for a major clean-up dive at Steep Point, Australia’s most western point. This area, unfortunately, is full of fishing debris, but thanks to our collaborative efforts, we were able to remove a staggering 300kg of lead and a lot of fishing line from the waters. We had 9 volunteer divers do three 50 minute dives each. These clean-up dives are crucial for protecting marine life, and we’re committed to continuing this work with our partners to restore the natural beauty and health of Shark Bay.

We’ve also taken the next step in expanding our restoration efforts by beginning the process of securing sites on the Denham side of Shark Bay. We're currently in the process of applying for permits and sourcing the necessary resources to start planting Posidonia, a vital species for the local marine environment.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans to purchase a dive compressor this year, which will allow us to fill our own tanks and ensure we have the equipment we need for continued success. This will streamline our operations and help us further our restoration efforts more efficiently.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our supporters and donors, your continued contributions make these achievements possible. Thanks to your generosity, we are well on our way to making a lasting impact in Shark Bay.

And finally, we’re gearing up for an exciting year ahead! We’re getting close to finalizing plans for the Monkey Mia side of the restoration project. We’re aiming for an even bigger and better year of restoration, with hopes for expanded projects and greater community involvement.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey toward a healthier, more vibrant Shark Bay!

Photography Credit: Jake Mason Photography

Norwest lady's refurbishment

At the end of November, we lifted her from the water and transported her to Geraldton, where she received a comprehensive engine overhaul, along with several enhancements and a fresh paint job, ensuring she’s ready for the 2026 seagrass season!

2025 seagrass restoration

liam@perfectnaturecruises.com.au (Liam Ridgley) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:42:20 GMT

2025 Restoration Completed

2025 seagrass project was a great success, our most efficient year yet! Over the 3 weeks we deployed 2000 sandbags with 16 000 seedlings attached. New volunteers joined the fun and some returning faces too, with over 50 volunteers in total helping.

We had all hands-on deck deploying, diving and using our brand-new sandbagging machine, the Baginator. This made for quick and easy sand bagging allowing us to fill 1 bag every 15 seconds.

The hessian bags were all purchased thanks to our supporters and donations. Having a trailer for the machine means we will be able to transport it for rapid response call-outs in cyclone or flood situations. Having this world class equipment would not be possible without donations and our supporters which have been outstanding again in helping with funding for the project.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to the Malgana group for their ongoing support with the project as well.

Filling 1 bag every 15 seconds.

Baginator

UWA’s has also been a vital cog in the machine making headways with their research. One of the findings was with the hessian bag quality which effects the derogation rate of each bag. So, this year we have implemented 10 ounce hessian bags which take a little longer to degrade allowing the seagrass to establish stable roots and the best chance of flourishing.

Our original goal of 6000 bags was unfortunately cut short due to permit delays, however we are eager to exceeded that goal next year. The 2 hectares we were able to plant this year is just a small drop in the ocean but will still go a long way in reviving our seagrass meadow to its former glory!

With our partners Ozfish we are looking at expanding to all over Western Australia. The meadow here in Monkey Mia is the largest in Australia but there are many other meadows in WA that need assistance too. We are very excited about possibilities for the future through sharing our learnings from Monkey Mia and adapting them to other parts of Australia.

May Update 2025

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:03:10 GMT

2025 has begun, we have 2000 sandbags to deploy with 4000 more still in application process.

We have begun or seedling translocation programs and have reseeded 6000 of the 32 000 seedlings to be collected from the shoreline and given a second chance at life in the seagrass meadows

Lastly we raised enough funds to purchase a custom built sandbagging machine and can fill 1 sandbags every 20 seconds

Welcome onboard

Shark bay caravan park

Geared Construction

And RDH holdings, can we please have these linked

Huge thankyou to all our supporters

Latest Seagrass Progress

Mon, 05 May 2025 23:26:53 GMT

Shark Bay Seagrass Progress

We conducted our second round of monitoring on the second of April and found some excellent results in the southern sites with seedlings 'Amphibolis Antarctica' now well established with tropical species of seagrass establishing amongst the sandbags.

2025 Seagrass Restoration

jade@perfectnaturecruises.com.au (Jade Standen) — Mon, 05 May 2025 23:20:24 GMT

2025 Monkey Mia Seagrass Restoration is set to begin on the 16th of May

Our 2025 Monkey Mia Seagrass Restoration is set to begin on the 16th of May, we plan to restore 6 hectares of decimated seagrass meadows utilising 6000 hessian sandbags and translocate 36000 live amphibious Antarctica seedlings, please get in contact if you can volunteer and for more information, we expect the project to run for roughly 60 days

Seagrass Restoration 2024

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:16:44 GMT

2024 Seagrass Restoration

Seagrass Restoration

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:14:57 GMT

Monkey Mia Seagrass Restoration

New Paragraph

ABC Article

Tue, 28 May 2024 04:44:18 GMT

Shark Bay seabeds a ticking time bomb

ABC recently highlighted the pressing issue of seagrass loss in Shark Bay, a vital ecosystem for marine life. We were featured in the article in regards to our efforts to help resort the local seagrass.