Australia: Great News for WA’s Coastline

Beach profiling on Perth’s northern beaches, City Beach groyne maintenance and sand replenishment in Busselton are just some of the projects to benefit from a $1million investment to increase the protection of Western Australia’s coastline.

Ten local government authorities and coastal management groups, from Jurien Bay to Esperance, have successfully secured funding in the 2013-14 Coastal Adaptation and Protection grants round.

Thirteen projects will share $1,055,500 for activities ranging from coastal monitoring, planning and investigations, asset management and maintenance.

“The grants foster a partnership between State and local governments and other coastal managers in the work to protect one of the WA’s most valuable assets, our coastline,” Transport Minister Troy Buswell said.

“Western Australia is known for its beach lifestyle and it is vitally important we actively work to protect our beaches and coastlines that are enjoyed by so many.”

The Town of Cambridge was granted $120,000 to undertake maintenance works on the City Beach groyne and the City of Stirling will survey its beaches from Scarborough to Sorrento to better plan the management of its coastline.

Popular regional beaches also benefit with the City of Busselton granted $262,500 for the refurbishment of a series of groynes to prevent erosion and the City of Albany receives more than $100,000 for its Emu Point to Middleton Beach coastal adaptation and protection strategy.

The new CAP grants program, announced last year following a review of the previous Coastal Protection Program, is administered by the Department of Transport.

The Minister said the grants would ensure coastal assets were protected from the impacts of ocean forces.

Organisations (including local government authorities, State Government agencies and corporate bodies) responsible for coastal management are eligible to apply for CAP grants.

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Press Release, September 30, 2013