Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants

Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants program

The Coastal Public Access and Risk (CPAR) Grants program provides financial assistance to Victorian coastal Crown land managers to reduce coastal risk and improve public access.

The Victorian Government funds these grants to reduce coastal risk through identification, mitigation and monitoring.

Given the range of risks that are inherent in a dynamic coastal environment, this program aims to support a strategic and balanced approach to risk management along the Victorian coast.

2020-21 Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants recipients

We are pleased to announce that 12 grants worth a total of $500,000 have been awarded through the 2020-21 Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants program.

This year’s grants program has provided up to $80,000 to Victorian coastal Crown land managers to reduce coastal risk and improve public access.

The program funding was made available through the $11 million for Safeguarding marine and coastal environments in the face of climate change. The funding is part of the broader Government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package.

2020-21 successful projects


Grant recipient	Project
Moyne Shire Council	Replace Griffiths Island Southern Causeway Replace box culverts and concrete path to allow emergency vehicle access and prevent tripping hazards.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.	Eastern View and Anglesea Beach fencing Replace 675m of beach fencing lost to storm damage in April 2020 in locations at Anglesea Back Beach, Eastern View and the Memorial Arch. Repair of beach access stairs at Coalmine Track car park, Eastern View.
Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.	Renew Hodgson Street beach access with a pedestrian ramp Construct a timber elevated pedestrian beach access ramp to enable individuals with ambulant difficulties to access the beach. The ramp will be structured to accommodate coastal storm surge with erosion of beach level and sand dune recession through placement of buttressed timber piles driven metres below water level.
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.	Formalisation of beach access point - staircase, The Gap Torquay Formalise the beach access point located at The Gap, Torquay. The proposed structure will include fencing, a viewing platform and beach access stairs. The structure aims to reduce trip/falling hazards, increase accessibility and improve public safety and access.
Parks Victoria	Repair Gibson Steps public coastal access structure The popular Gibson Steps requires replacement of the bottom 4/5 steps. The current concrete steps have failed and broken away due to coastal tide/wave impacts. This project requires a design and construct contract for replacement steps that comply with Australian Standards and meet the relevant Australian Building Code.
Phillip Island Nature Park	Coastal erosion intervention at the Penguin Parade Technical specification and engineering drawing and design to support actions for erosion recovery at Penguin Parade. Dune recovery actions: sand nourishment in front of Penguin Parade stands; dune reshaping; Marram grass and Sea-Wheat grass removal; matting between stands for dune strength and; integrity revegetation work using Spinifex.
Loch Sport Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.	Realignment of eroded foreshore walking track at Seagull Drive and The Boulevard Climate change has exacerbated the erosion of the foreshore along Seagull Drive and The Boulevard, destroying sections of the recreational walking track. The project will realign the walking track away from the eroded areas, to safeguard the continued use of the popular walking track by locals and visitors.
Walkerville Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.	Rebuild and repair of Walkerville South coastal access tracks Undertake works on two coastal tracks at Walkerville South to improve safety and access to the beaches at Walkerville South. Track 1 is currently closed due to a landslide and Track 2 is currently a risk to safety due to track conditions.
Balnarring Foreshore and Parks Reserve Committee of Management	Installation of fire hydrant in C Reserve, Balnarring Beach Install a fire hydrant in C Reserve to mitigate fire risk for campers and residents. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has recommended installation of a fire hose reel to ensure every site can be reached by a fire unit.
Mornington Peninsula Shire	Geotechnical Risk Assessment at Fishermans Beach Undertake a geotechnical assessment to determine the current condition of the Fishermans Beach foreshore reserve and identify the level of risk posed to the public and foreshore infrastructure so that appropriate management strategies can be prioritised and actions implemented to reduce risk within this coastal reserve.
Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.	Merricks Beach Foreshore access paths safety improvement Address safety/erosion risks associated with a number of paths and trails in the Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve. The project will construct steps, handrails and a bike access control, resurface some paths and trails and improve run-off from the paths to better manage erosion.
Kingston City Council	Carrum Beach terminal scour and beach access works Continue the existing sloped rock revetment to the south, abutting the pedestrian boardwalk and beach access way to mitigate damage caused by storm surge and erosion. Install Terrafix interlocking concrete block system in the access way to stabilise the surface and ensure safe access continues following loss of sand.