Abstract
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is actively engaged in the restoration of coastal wetlands within the lower reaches of the Maroochy River catchment area which is referred to as the Blue Heart (Webb, 2020; Sunshine Coast Regional Council, 2020). Most of the Blue Heart has an elevation of less than 2 m above mean sea level. The restoration has many benefits for the environment and regional community which include climate change mitigation through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon, increased ecosystem services (i.e., increased biodiversity), improved water quality, and the protection from extreme weather events like storm surges, tidal inundation and flash flooding. This project aligns with: 1) the regional council’s objectives to a develop a coastal hazard adaption strategy; 2) their Environment and Liveability strategy; and 3) integrated research currently being scoped for the Blue Carbon Pilot Project.