Coastal and estuary grants

The NSW Government's Coastal and Estuary Grants Program provides technical and financial support to local government to help manage the coastal zone.

We've updated our web pages to make information clearer and easier to find. You can find information on floodplain management grants on a separate page.

Current funding round

The 2022–23 funding round for the planning stream is open.

Funding for the implementation stream is closed.

Councils may apply for funding throughout the year for works related to sites of significant open coast hazards that cannot wait until the next funding round.

Aerial view of estuaries at Kiama. The program aims to help:

  • manage risks from coastal hazards, such as coastal erosion
  • restore degraded coastal habitats
  • improve the health of estuaries, wetlands and littoral rainforests across New South Wales.

The program supports coastal and estuary planning projects and the implementation of works identified in certified coastal zone management plans or coastal management programs. Grant offers are subject to statewide priorities and availability of funds each financial year.

Who can apply

  • Local councils
  • Joint organisations (established under an Act of Parliament)
  • Incorporated Regional Organisations of Councils (ROC)
  • Where multiple councils are working together within the same coastal sediment compartment or estuary to prepare and implement a Coastal Management Program, one council (county council, joint organisation or incorporated ROC) is required to be the lead agency in terms of signing the funding agreement, managing monies and reporting on the project
  • Local Land Services, county councils and public land managers (such as a Crown reserve trust or a location-specific NSW Government authority) in partnership with a lead council, providing the council or other eligible organisation is the principal applicant and assumes overall responsibility for administrating the grant

What will be funded

Funding is available under 6 funding streams: a planning stream, 4 implementation streams and one for identified significant open coast hazards locations.

Funding is available for planning projects that aim to:

  • develop a coastal management program (CMP)
  • transition a coastal zone management plan (CZMP) to a CMP
  • undertake investigations and designs or cost benefit analyses for infrastructure works recommended in a certified CMP.

Funding is available for implementation of actions identified in certified coastal zone management plans or coastal management programs. Projects need to fit into 1 of 4 streams:

  • coastal vulnerability area
  • coastal wetland and littoral rainforest areas
  • coastal environment area
  • coastal use area.

Councils with an identified significant open coast hazards location may apply for funding throughout the year for works that cannot wait until the next funding round. Funding is available for works that directly reduce/mitigate coast hazards related to a significant open coast hazards site.

Online Grants Management System

The Grants Management System (GMS) is purpose built to manage the entire grant process online, from application through to final acquittal and evaluation.

It allows you to apply online for grants.

If your funding application is successful, this GMS will be used to lodge documents related to the project, such as work plans, variations, progress reports and final acquittal reports.

Log in or register for the GMS

Through the use of the GMS, some personal information will be collected. The Privacy Policy outlines how this information will be managed.

How to apply

The planning stream for the 2022–23 funding round is open.

The implementation stream for the 2022–23 funding round closed on 14 September 2022.

Information for new applicants, including guidelines, are available.

Current grant holders

Information for successful applicants and current grant holders, including how to manage and report on your grant, is available.