New informative dolphin signs have been installed at Whyalla’s marina and Foreshore along with a suite of new educational signage on sharing the Foreshore and the importance of the local environment.
Council has been working proactively and collaboratively with the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board (formerly Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management) and the Spencer Gulf & West Coast Prawn Fishermen’s Association Inc, to bring this project to fruition.
Existing signage, found to be showing signs of age and exposure to the coastal environment, was renewed and additional complementary signage added at each location. A total of fifteen new signs were installed, with three signs now sitting side by side at five separate locations along the Whyalla Foreshore.
All the new signs have been carefully designed and selected to ensure they are aesthetically appealing, relevant, and ensure continuity and consistency in messaging. Educational signage at the cuttlefish dive site, which has proven overwhelmingly popular, is of the same style and design.
It is hoped that the new signage will provide the local community with greater knowledge and awareness of the ecological systems that thrive along our coastline and how they can best interact with it.
The total cost of the project was $10,380, with Council contributing $4380, Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board $3000 & the Spencer Gulf & West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association Inc $3000. Council managed the project and organised the manufacture and installation of all 15 signs and frames, using local contractor Signarama.
The three signs are:
Sign 1 - ‘Sharing our Foreshore’
The message on this sign has been in use since 2014, the only change required was to remove snapper as a fish to be targeted due to the current snapper ban. Council organised the information and artwork for these signs, contributing $4,380 to the project.
Sign 2 - ‘Spencer Gulf King Prawn Fishery’
The second sign is an educational sign for the Spencer Gulf & West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association Inc, who have been keen to do an educational sign project with Council for some time. The Spencer Gulf & West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association Inc provided the information and artwork, plus funding of $3,000.
Sign 3 - ‘Help protect our local Bottlenose dolphins’
The third sign is an educational sign about the Whyalla dolphins. Observing dolphins in the area is a popular activity, however interfering with their natural behaviour by feeding them can result in serious long-term impacts. These new dolphin signs were coordinated by local Landscape Officers, in partnership with the Whyalla Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, and the Whyalla Barngarla People, with the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board providing the information and artwork, plus funding of $3,000.
Pictured below with one set of the new Foreshore educational signs are Samuel Bourne, Council’s Project Manager Landscape & Mayor Clare McLaughlin.
