Pix Stix
A community photo-monitoring project tracking change along Yorke Peninsula's coast
The Northern and Yorke region is home to a diverse and dynamic coastline. From sandy beaches and dunes to rocky headlands and estuaries, these coastal environments are constantly shaped by tides, waves, wind, and human activity.
Pix Stix is a community-based monitoring program that uses simple, repeatable photography to document changes along the coast over time. By building a visual record, Pix Stix helps communities and land managers understand and care for these valued coastal areas.
What are Pix Stix?
Pix Stix began on the Eyre Peninsula, developed by the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, and has since been adopted in the Northern and Yorke region. Pix Stix are fixed photographic monitoring points installed at selected coastal sites. Clear instructions allow photos to be taken from the same position on a smartphone over time, creating a consistent visual record.
Repeated images help show:
- Movement of sand and dunes
- Changes in vegetation cover
- Areas of erosion or recovery
- Seasonal and longer-term coastal change
Pix Stix provides valuable insights into how our coasts are changing and adapting.
How to use Pix Stix?
At a Pix Stix location place you
Why it matters
Understanding how our coastline changes helps communities and land managers to:
- Make informed planning and management decisions
- Identify areas vulnerable to erosion or disturbance
- Track the outcomes of restoration and protection works
- Balance public access, recreation, and environmental health
Pix Stix turns everyday observations into shared knowledge that grows in value over time.
Community involvement
Pix Stix is designed for community participation. Local residents, visitors, schools, and volunteer groups can contribute by taking photos at a Pix Stix location. This approach builds awareness, strengthens connection to the coast, and complements scientific monitoring with on-ground experience.
Where Pix Stix are located
Pix Stix are installed at four coastal sites across the Northern and Yorke region where change is expected or of particular interest:
These locations include beaches, dunes, and headlands, providing a representative snapshot of the region’s dynamic coastline. “View the photo galleries for each site:
Wauraltee Beach | Parsons Beach | Point Souttar | Formby Bay
Get involved
Taking a great Pix Stix photo is simple. Just follow these steps to make sure your image can be used in our monitoring program.
1. Position your phone
Rest your phone on its side (landscape) against the aluminium phone rest. Do not hold your phone upright, as portrait shots can't be used for comparison.
2. Line up your shot
Use the example photo at the site as a general guide for direction. Try to match it as closely as you can.
3. Take the photo
Once your phone is resting flat against the support and lined up with the example on Pix Stix sign, take your shot.
4. Send it through
Email (ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au) or text (0498 594 438) your photo and include:
- The Pix Stix location
- The date the photo was taken
That's it! Your photo helps build a valuable record of how this landscape is changing over time.
To learn more, find Pix Stix locations, or get involved, follow program updates or contact us at ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au
Partners
Pix Stix is supported by the following partners:
- Department for Environment and Water
- Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board
- Yorke Peninsula Council
