Coastwest - helping communities to care for the WA Coast

Coastwest grants are for projects designed to improve the condition and amenity of the coastal zone in Western Australia. The grants provide opportunities and resources to assist local coastal managers to undertake on-ground coastal management activities and facilitate community involvement and capacity building. This is to assist in the implementation of existing coastal management plans through cooperative coastal manager and community actions.

Coastal or Coast is defined as; coastal waters, the seabed and off-shore islands, including gulfs and sounds, under the jurisdiction of the Western Australian Government; the mobile beach zone and modern (Holocene) dune system; mangroves and wetlands and flats subject to tidal influence; rocky outcrops and headlands; areas potentially subject to shoreline movement; and estuaries and coastal lagoons

Objectives

Your project will need to address one or more objectives.

1. Contribute to the implementation of local and regional coastal plans and strategies.
2. Assist in the identification, protection and maintenance of environmental values, aesthetic qualities, biodiversity and water quality in the coastal zone.
3. Foster recreational and tourist use of the coast by assisting in the maintenance of the recreational amenity and provision of sustainable public access to the coast.
4. Build capacity in Western Australian communities in order to increase their involvement in coastal zone management activities through joint coastal zone research activities, education and training.

Who can apply?

Coastwest grants foster partnerships between coastal managers and community groups. Applications that indicate a strong partnership between these groups will be given priority.

Coastal manager 

To be eligible for funding, a coastal manager is defined as: a local government council; a State government department and Aboriginal Land Council with responsibilities for coastal management. To be eligible for funding a coastal manager needs to:

• Arrange all relevant project approvals and ensure that safety standards are met.
• Secure a partnership with a community group.
• Administer the granted funds (including periodic reporting and the final financial acquittal).
• Agree to a completion date no longer than 12 months from receipt of funding.

Community group 

To be eligible for funding, a community group is defined as a school, university, local ratepayers association, a Coastcare group, Friends of... group, non-government organisation, not-for-profit organisation and any other local issues based community-orientated group. To be eligible for funding a community group needs to:

• Secure a partnership with a coastal manager.
• Have clear involvement with the proposed project and participate in any research projects as an active member. The community group will be expected to contribute in-kind support toward the total cost of the project.

What types of projects will be considered for the Coastwest Grant Funding

There are four areas of activity in which Coastwest Grants will invest:

• On-ground action;
• Identification and monitoring;
• Project support; and
• Capacity building.

You can apply for up to $60 000 and projects must be completed within 12 months of project funding. The lead applicant must secure at least 50% of the project value. A combination of financial resources and in-kind support is acceptable. That is a project funding ratio of 1:1, Coastwest Grant dollar to applicant dollar.

A comprehensive list of eligible Coastwest activities is outlined in the grant guidelines, which are obtainable from this internet site or by contacting the State Coastwest Coordinator (Coastwest@wapc.wa.gov.au).