Published on:
Wednesday, 23 July 2025Key Points:
- WALGA welcomes CoastWA grants with $3 million to be shared across 27 projects
- Advocacy continues for State Government to show leadership in addressing coastal hazards across Western Australia
WALGA welcomes a $3 million commitment to support 27 projects to address coastal hazards, however, continues calls for the State Government to extend, expand and restructure CoastWA.
CoastWA is the State Government's program for addressing coastal hazards and is currently only funded until 2025-26. As part of WALGA's 2025 State Election Priorities, WALGA was seeking to protect coastal communities and assets from erosion and inundation, calling on the State Government to provide $150 million towards coastal adaptation over the next five years.
There are 53 coastal and estuarine Local Governments in Western Australia who have management responsibility for much of Western Australia’s coastal and estuarine foreshore areas.
View the full list of Local Government recipients. WALGA commends these Local Governments for the important work they are doing to plan for and adapt their coastlines to climate change.
The State Government also announced it will provide emergency funding of $150,000 to the Shire of Gingin to address rapid erosion of the Lancelin northern foreshore.
Comments attributed to WALGA President Karen Chappel AM JP:
"While the $3 million allocated to 2025-26 CoastWA grants is welcomed, we are concerned about the future of CoastWA, with the State Government yet to commit to funding post 2025-26.
"It is imperative that the State Government provides a commitment to extend CoastWA to enable Local Government to continue to budget and plan for coastal adaptation and ensure important projects aren't delayed.
"Coastal erosion and inundation from more intense storm surges, storm tides and sea level rise associated with climate change pose a serious threat to critical infrastructure like ports and roads, public assets, homes, and ecosystems in coastal communities.
"Local Governments are dealing with a variety of current day coastal management issues such as maintaining and rehabilitating dune vegetation, managing access of people and 4WDs, and providing facilities such as car parks, toilets, showers and playgrounds.
"It is important for the State Government to step up and provide greater leadership to support Local Governments who may not have the capacity or resources to respond adequately to complex coastal adaptation issues.
"This funding is essential in supporting our coastal Local Governments to respond to coastal erosion and inundation and to protect our local communities."
