The Department of Transport’s (DoT) Coastal Adaption and Protection (CAP) grant program provides financial assistance for local projects that identify and manage coastal hazards.
The H-CAP Major Project Fund is supporting program that provides grants to assist in the design and implementation of coastal adaptation works at WA’s coastal erosion hotspots.
DoT also provides non-financial assistance to support the grant programs, including:
- engineering and technical support
- coastal data
- guidance and advice.
The Coast WA program provides additional support to enable coastal land managers to proactively plan and manage their coastline.
DoT also offers Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme grants to plan, construct and upgrade public boating infrastructure to benefit the WA boating community.
Together CAP and H-CAP grants have provided more than $22.5 million in State funding to local coastal managers across 258 projects since 2009.
Apply for a CAP or H-CAP grant
Applications are now closed for 2025/2026.
To apply for a grant, you will need to register for a DoT Grants (OmniStar) account. For more information on how to register for an account and create an application, visit the Grants and funding page.
H-CAP is not available through the grant portal, eligible Coastal managers will be invited to send their applications directly to coastal.management@transport.wa.gov.au
View the documents below for more information.
CAP grants
The CAP grants program is designed to assist local coastal managers with coastal management by providing funds to undertake projects associated with identifying and adapting to coastal hazards.
A coastal hazard is the result of coastal processes that affect the environment and safety of people, such as erosion, accretion, and inundation.
255
CAP projects awarded
15,905,501
CAP Grant funding in dollars 2009/2010 to 2024/2025
Formerly known as the Coastal Protection Grants, the CAP grant program was introduced to reduce the high cost of coastal management for local authorities.
Who can 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 coastal projects, such as:
- 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.
Projects that have commenced or are complete are not eligible for funding unless the proposed project is a stage of previously approved project.
Funding
The minimum CAP grant limit is $15,000 (excluding GST) and the maximum CAP grant limit is $400,000 (excluding GST). Funding is available for up to 50% of the total cost for all project types.
The remainder of the project cost is to be funded by the applicant, but can include:
- funding from other sources, including government agencies or authorities
- in-kind contributions such as machinery, labour or materials.
Administration, project management and overhead costs or machinery depreciation can not be included in the project cost.
Find out more about CAP grants and funding selection criteria in the CAP Grants: Information for applicants (2024/2025) document below.
H-CAP Major Project Fund grants
The H-CAP Major Project Fund provides financial assistance for strategic coastal adaptation projects at the State’s 55 coastal erosion hotspots.
8
H-CAP projects awarded
7,415,000
H-CAP Grant funding in dollars 2009/2010 to 2024/2025
Who can apply for a H-CAP grant?
H-CAP grants are only available to local coastal managers who have both:
- a completed Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP)
- a proposed adaptation project that will manage at least one coastal erosion hotspot.
Invitations to apply for H-CAP are sent directly to eligible coastal managers, who will apply for H-CAP funding with a project proposal.
For more information on H-CAP grants, email us at coastal.management@transport.wa.gov.au
Find out more about the CHRMAP principles on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website.
Awarded Coastal Adaptation and Protection grants
View the documents below for details of the CAP and H-CAP grant recipients for 2023/2024, and the projects completed in previous years.