About the Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants Program

The Coastal Public Access and Risk (CPAR) Grants Program delivers funding to coastal Crown land managers, including voluntary committees of management and local government, to reduce coastal risk and improve public access.

The Victorian Government is funding these grants for activities that reduce coastal risk through:

  • identification
  • mitigation and
  • monitoring.

Grants of up to $150,000 are available to eligible coastal Crown land managers for the 2023-24 round of CPAR grants.

Why do we need the Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants Program?

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.

The grants help provide the community with safe access to our beaches and help coastal Crown land managers manage risks to our precious coastal environments.

Types of projects previously funded by CPAR grants include:

  • risk assessment and management plans for safer access
  • repair or replacement of paths, stairways, boardwalks and access ramps
  • installation and improvement of public safety signage and access barriers
  • works on viewing platforms and lookouts.

Apply for a Coastal Public Access and Risk grant

The 2023-24 grant round is now open and closes at 5 pm on Wednesday 1 November 2023. 

Select the button below to view the application guidelines and to apply:

Apply

If ineligible for the Coastal Public Access and Risk Grants Program, visit Grants Victoria for Victorian government grants.

Coastal Public Access and Risk grant recipients

Read about the projects this program has funded:

  • Number of projects funded: 16
  • Total funding: $1,175,580
  • Barwon South West

    Organisation

    Project

    Grant amount

    Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc

    Ocean Grove 17W West Beach access replacement

    $75,880

    Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc

    36W Beach access renewal

    $121,800

    City of Greater Geelong

    Geotechnical and geomorphic assessment of the Corio Bay coast

    $50,000

    Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

    Point Grey water access safety upgrades

    $104,720

    Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

    Marengo Beach ramp replacement

    $150,000

    Warrnambool City Council

    Demolition and replacement of beach access WCC123 of McGennans car park

    $150,000

    Gippsland

    Organisation

    Project

    Grant amount

    Phillip Island Nature Park Board of Management Inc

    Forrest Caves boardwalk upgrade

    $80,285

    Phillip Island Nature Park Board of Management Inc

    Nature Parks public coastal awareness safety signs

    $64,223

    Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management Inc

    Decking replacement to Main Beach and Ned Neal's boardwalks

    $35,654

    Seaspray Reserve Committee of Management Inc

    Centre Road beach crossover

    $43,668

    Walkerville Foreshore Committee of Management Inc

    Identifying access issues and risk within the Walkerville Foreshore Reserve

    $9,700

    Port Phillip

    Organisation

    Project

    Grant amount

    City of Kingston

    Parkdale Yacht Club accessible pedestrian ramp to foreshore

    $150,000

    City of Port Phillip

    Middle Park Beach access ramp upgrade

    $62,000

    Dromana Foreshore Committee of Management Inc

    Dromana Foreshore public access strategic risk assessment

    $28,586

    Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc

    Replace foreshore stairs at Inverness Avenue, Blairgowrie

    $28,870

    Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc

    Bay Trail Missing Links feasibility studies

    $20,194

  • Number of projects: 20
  • Total funding: $1,306,620

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.

12W stairs and beach access replacement Ocean Grove

$34,496

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.

17W stairs and beach access replacement Ocean Grove

$36,729

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Northern Bellarine foreshore landslide risk management

$11,560

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 1

$65,100

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 2

$71,400

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 3

$80,500

Glenelg Shire Council

Portland Foreshore bollard installation

$64,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Beach safety sign installation and replacement

$150,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Jan Juc emergency access ramp

$150,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Wye River caravan park beach access

$9,779

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Beach access point at Apollo Bay – Gambier St

$59,136

Nelson Reserves Committee of Management Inc.

West Bank car park foreshore rejuvenation

$135,222

Warrnambool City Council

Wild Coast Landscape Master Plan access improvement

$150,000

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Corinella Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Clearing and remediation of contaminated beach site

$66,100

Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Dune erosion reinstatement

$47,262

Port Phillip

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

City of Port Phillip

Sandbar beach access upgrade

$60,291

Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Merricks Beach 'Pine Slide' path upgrade

$25,018

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Fishermans Beach geotechnical risk assessment and mitigation options - stage 2

$36,245

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Cliff risk assessment and remediation - Kennon Cove, Flinders

$38,090

Point Leo Foreshore Committee of Management

East Creek beach pedestrian access

$15,692

  • Number of projects funded: 12
  • Total funding: $500,000

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.

Renew Hodgson St. beach access with a pedestrian ramp

$ 50,000

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.

Renew beach access and fencing - Eastern View and Anglesea

$ 12,450

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.

Formalisation of beach access point - staircase, The Gap Torquay

$ 21,000

Moyne Shire Council

Replace Griffiths Island southern causeway

$ 72,984.50

Parks Victoria

Repair Gibson Steps public coastal access structure

$ 17,500

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Loch Sport Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Realignment of eroded foreshore walking track at Seagull Drive and The Boulevard

$47,888

Phillip Island Nature Park

Coastal erosion intervention at the Penguin Parade

$78,770

Walkerville Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Walkerville South coastal access tracks rebuild and repair

$22,565

Port Phillip

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Balnarring Beach Foreshore and Parks Reserve Inc.

Fire hydrant installation in C reserve

$ 15,584.50

Kingston City Council

Carrum Beach terminal scour and beach access works

$ 65,000

Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Merricks Beach Foreshore access paths safety improvement

$ 79,508

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Fishermans Beach geotechnical risk assessment

$ 16,750

2020-21 funded projects (PDF, 157.7 KB)

  • Number of projects funded: 20
  • Total funding: $853,745

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Borough of Queenscliffe

Beach condition and hazard identification assessment

$ 7,000

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.

Anglesea beach access ramp

$ 150,000

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.

Coastal and terrestrial process dynamics in Anglesea Bay

$ 28,147

Moyne Shire Council

Bourne Avenue access ramp, East Beach, Port Fairy

$ 100,000

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Skenes Creek beach accesses

$ 18,018

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Wye River boardwalk

$ 3,990

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Kennett River Holiday Park fire hose reels

$ 4,480

Warrnambool City Council

Landscape Master Plan for Levys Point and Spooks

$ 20,000

Warrnambool City Council

Lady Bay Investigation and Decommission - McGennas and Worm Bay Access

$ 9,900

Warrnambool City Council

Shipwreck beach access

$ 93,400

Warrnambool City Council

Surfside beach access

$ 46,700

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Bass Coast Shire Council

Cowes East Foreshore: erosion management planning

$25,000

East Gippsland Shire Council/DELWP

Bullock Island pedestrian and vehicle separation and demarcation works

$16,800

Grantville and District Foreshore Committee

Reduction of public risk from steel debris and improve erosion prevention

$40,000

Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Sandy Point boardwalk extension and Roy Henderson Path upgrade

$25,500

Seaspray Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Seaspray foreshore path and crossover surf club to creek

$20,000

Port Phillip

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Dromana Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Fire management plan for LaTrobe Reserve Dromana

$7,810

Kingston City Council

Bay Trail continuation

$150,000

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Mornington/Mt Martha cliffside fence upgrade – phase two

$35,000

WhiteCliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management

Stairway replacement and coastal erosion mitigation

$52,000

2018-19 funded projects (PDF, 263.5 KB)

  • Number of projects funded: 17
  • Total funding: $932,000

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management

St Leonards coastal trail realignment

$ 24,000

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management

Public safety and access: Jade Tiger Beach, Indented Head

$ 88,000

Glenelg Shire Council

Portland coastal stability assessment

$ 20,000

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Inc.

Steps beach stairway replacement Jan Juc

$ 60,000

Moyne Shire Council

Port Fairy Surf Club boat ramp reconfiguration

$ 45,000

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Marengo beach access and beach renourishment mitigation

$ 27,000

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Wye River beach access

$ 35,000

Surf Coast Shire Council

Bells Beach replacement of Winki lookout pathways

$ 128,000

Warrnambool City Council

Moyjil-Point Ritchie access upgrade

$ 121,000

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Bass Coast Shire Council

First Surf beach foreshore stair access replacement

$ 56,000

Gippsland Ports Committee of Management Inc.

Lakes Entrance risk mitigation works

$ 34,000

Phillip Island Nature Parks

Colonnades boardwalk

$ 18,000

Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Safety upgrade of Sandy Point foreshore main beach access

$ 15,000

Seaspray Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Caravan Park beach access

$ 40,000

Port Phillip

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Hobsons Bay City Council

Altona Foreshore access ramp upgrade

$ 150,000

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Mornington/Mt Martha cliffside fence upgrade

$ 35,000

Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Merricks Beach access improvement

$ 36,000

2017-18 funded projects (PDF, 251.4 KB)

  • Number of projects: 20
  • Total funding: $728,250

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Barwon Coast Committee of Management

Replace Beach Access Stairs at 31W

$ 45,000

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management

Risk Assessment and Hazard Signage on the Bellarine Foreshore

$ 10,000

Great Ocean Road Coast Committee of Management

Anglesea Caravan Park Boat Ramp and Cliff Erosion Remediation

$ 40,000

Narrawong Camping and Recreations Reserve Inc.

Narrawong Recreation Reserve - Rota Loo Public Toilet Relocation

$ 15,000

Narrawong Camping and Recreations Reserve Inc.

Narrawong Recreation Reserve Beach Access Bridge

$ 78,000

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Marengo to Wild Dog Creek Sand Management Plan Implementation

$ 100,000

Otway Coast Committee of Management

Marengo Toilet Block Removal

$ 15,000

Parks Victoria

Murnanes Bay access stairs

$ 6,750

Parks Victoria

Ironbark Basin viewing platform

$ 26,000

Warrnambool City Council

Implementation of the Coastal Access Risk Capital Works Program

$ 15,000

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Bass Coast Shire Council

Inverloch Foreshore: Goroke Street beach access reconstruction

$ 40,000

Lakes Entrance Recreation Reserve Committee of Management

North Arm Foreshore Erosion Control, Drainage and Access

$ 100,000

Loch Sport Foreshore Committee of Management

Loch Sport Public Path Risk Assessment

$ 10,000

Parks Victoria

Millers Landing accessibility ramp

$ 9,000

Phillip Island Nature Park

Smiths Beach West Stair Access Risk Mitigation

$ 10,000

Port Phillip

    Recipient

    Project

    Grant amount

    Bayside City Council

    Sims Street ramp renewal

    $ 100,000

    Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

    Mount Martha North beach erosion and coastal processes study

    $ 38,500

    Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

    The Pillars immediate risk mitigation works and management plan

    $ 30,000

    Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management

    Repair of storm damaged beach access stairs and retaining walls

    $ 20,000

    Wyndham City Council

    Werribee South foreshore protection, Baileys Beach to Cunninghams Road

    $ 20,000

  • Number of projects: 20
  • Total funding: $1,306,620

Barwon South West

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.

12W stairs and beach access replacement Ocean Grove

$34,496

Barwon Coast Committee of Management Inc.

17W stairs and beach access replacement Ocean Grove

$36,729

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Northern Bellarine foreshore landslide risk management

$11,560

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 1

$65,100

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 2

$71,400

Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Indented Head saltmarsh boardwalks – boardwalk 3

$80,500

Glenelg Shire Council

Portland Foreshore bollard installation

$64,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Beach safety sign installation and replacement

$150,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Jan Juc emergency access ramp

$150,000

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Wye River caravan park beach access

$9,779

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority

Beach access point at Apollo Bay – Gambier St

$59,136

Nelson Reserves Committee of Management Inc.

West Bank car park foreshore rejuvenation

$135,222

Warrnambool City Council

Wild Coast Landscape Master Plan access improvement

$150,000

Gippsland

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

Corinella Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Clearing and remediation of contaminated beach site

$66,100

Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management Inc.

Dune erosion reinstatement

$47,262

Port Phillip

Recipient

Project

Grant amount

City of Port Phillip

Sandbar beach access upgrade

$60,291

Merricks Beach Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc.

Merricks Beach 'Pine Slide' path upgrade

$25,018

Mornington Peninsula Shire

Fishermans Beach geotechnical risk assessment and mitigation options - stage 2

$36,245

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Cliff risk assessment and remediation - Kennon Cove, Flinders

$38,090

Point Leo Foreshore Committee of Management

East Creek beach pedestrian access

$15,692