Coastal Adaptation and Protection (CAP) Grants and H-CAP Major Project Fund

The Department’s CAP grant program is an annual coastal grant program which provides financial assistance for local projects that identify and manage coastal hazards.

A supporting  annual grant scheme has been implemented: the H-CAP Major Project Fund. These additional grants assist in the design and implementation of coastal adaptation works at WA’s coastal erosion hotspots, as identified in Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia below.

Together CAP and H-CAP grants have seen more than $18 million in State funding provided to local coastal managers across 231 projects since 2009.

CAP grants provide financial assistance for local projects that identify and manage coastal hazards.

The program seeks to preserve and enhance coastal assets for the general public, building partnerships with local coastal managers, and helping them understand and adapt to coastal hazards.

The Department of Transport also provides non-financial assistance, such as:

• engineering and technical support
• coastal data
• guidance and advice.

Formerly known as the Coastal Protection Grants, the CAP grant program was introduced to reduce the high cost of coastal management for local authorities. The program was revised in response to increased requests for funding from local coastal managers.

The 2023/2024 CAP and H-CAP and grant rounds are now open for applications until Monday 1 May 2023 at 12pm. Please refer to the information and documents below on how to apply.

Who may apply for a CAP grant?

CAP grants are available to public bodies responsible for coastal management in Western Australia, including:

• local governments.
• State Government agencies.
• Aboriginal land councils.
• other corporate bodies directly involved with coastal management.

Eligible project types

CAP grants are available for the below coastal project types:

• coastal monitoring
• investigation
• asset management
• coastal adaptation
• maintenance works.

CAP grants are available for the coastline immediately adjacent to the oceans of WA. Estuarine shorelines are also included as an area of secondary focus.

View the CAP documents below for more information about CAP grants.

Who may apply for a H-CAP grant?

H-CAP is only available to local coastal managers with both a completed Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) and at least one coastal erosion hotspot to be managed by the proposed adaptation project. Invitations to apply for H-CAP are sent directly to eligible coastal managers, with a project proposal rather than using a standard application form. 

Please use the contact information at the bottom of this page to learn more about applying for H-CAP. For more information on coastal erosion hotspots, please see the Coastal Erosion Hotspots in Western Australia information sheet below

View the documents below for details of the CAP and H-CAP grant recipients for 2022/2023, and the projects completed in previous years.

For more information about the CAP Grants please contact us: