Construction of a Coastal Sea Defence Wall between Fell Street and Charles Street in Encounter Bay is almost complete, with only minor works remaining, according to the City of Victor Harbor.

Work on the project started in late April 2025, with the council engaging CATCON to undertake the construction.

It says the new Coastal Sea Defence Wall is made of two elements - a rock revetment and a concrete wave wall. 

The rock revetment extends for the entire length of the project, while the concrete wave wall extends from Ridgeway Street to Charles Street - with height varying between 0mm and 650mm.

The purpose of the wall is to provide immediate protection for community assets such as nearby roads and land. It will also offer long-term resilience for low-lying urban areas against storm surges, sea level rise and flooding.

The remaining minor works are expected to be completed in early 2026, as weather and material supply allows. This includes:line marking for the shared user path and installation of a retaining wall and fencing between the shared user path and Ridgeway Street roundabout.

Planting between Fell and Ridgeway Street will be done later in the year, when the weather is cooler.

City of Victor Harbor Mayor Dr Moira Jenkins is excited to see the area re-opened for public access ahead just in time for the busy holiday season.

“Franklin Parade is now fully re-opened to two-way traffic and the Encounter Bikeway is accessible to pedestrians and cyclists once again. The area is looking fantastic,” she says.

“Thank you to local businesses, residents and the broader community for their patience while the bulk of this important project was undertaken.

“I’d like to congratulate both Council staff and CATCON for their efforts on this project. It’s not easy to work directly along our dynamic coastline, navigating the ever-changing weather and tides plus our shorebirds and wildlife.

“The new wall will help to mitigate increasing risks to both our natural environment and vital infrastructure as a result of the changing climate.”

This project was primarily funded by the City of Victor Harbor, supported by grant funding from the federal government’s Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, the National Disaster Ready Fund and Coast Protection Board.