$18.5 million allocated to protect Western Australia's coastline

An additional $18.5 million has been allocated in the Western Australian Government’s 2021-22 budget to manage the impacts of coastal erosion and protect the state’s coastline.

The program, which now has $33.5 million of funding over the next five years, will help address key issues outlined in the 2019 Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots.

The report identified 55 hotspots where coastal erosion is expected to be a threat to coastal values and assets, and an additional 31 watch list locations for future investigation.

The new funding will help local coastal managers to prepare Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plans, collect data, enable community engagement, training and education, and deliver priority implementation actions.

 This funding builds on the coastal grants administered to local governments and key stakeholders each year by the State Government, as well as the $5 million allocated to address four priority areas as part of the WA Recovery Plan.

In 2020, the State Government successfully secured Infrastructure Australia's endorsement for a national coastal erosion strategy which was identified as a high priority on its Infrastructure Priority List.

Western Australian Transport and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti notes "we have some of the most beautiful beaches here in Western Australia and they are loved by locals and tourists alike.

"However, they are very fragile environments and it's important we have the right programs in place to protect our coastline, now and into the future.”

The following are some of the grant recipients:

Recipient: Environs Kimberley
Project: Documenting and managing Nyul Nyul and Bardi Jawi sea country            
Description: Document and map sea country and coastal habitats to allow future coastal planning and track historical changes
Grant: $42,943

Recipient: City of Fremantle
Project: Port Beach Large-scale Sand Nourishment
Description: Detail design and construction
Grant: $3,250,000

Recipient: Rottnest Island Authority
Project: South Thomson Revetment
Description: Detail design and construction
Grant: $1,770,000

Recipient: Town of Cottesloe
Project: Grant Street Dune Restoration Project (N5-N6)
Description: Ecological restoration of Cottesloe's coastline
Grant: $6,738

For full list of grant recipients click here 

Image: Cottesloe Rehabilitated Dune System