Australia: Grants for Protection of WA Coastline Available

Grants totalling $500,000 are now available for organisations working to manage and ultimately protect Western Australia’s 21,000km of coastline.

Coastwest grants enable community groups, local governments and others to implement initiatives to ensure the sustainable use of coastal zones in their local areas.

In the past five years, more than $4million has been provided towards 149 projects to stabilise dunes, protect coastal flora and fauna, monitor marine life and water quality, and rehabilitate degraded areas.

Planning Minister John Day said WA’s unique coastal environments faced a range of challenges, including the effects of climate change, population growth and competing land uses.

“Our coastal areas make up one-third of the continent’s entire coastline and our beaches are a highly valued part of the State’s natural landscape. Continued good management is a clear priority,” Mr Day said.

“Coastwest funding helps foster partnerships between community groups and coastal managers, encouraging a valuable collaborative effort to manage our much-loved areas.”

Applications close on Monday June 23, 2014.

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Press Release, May 19, 2014