Habitat protection and foreshore management

Riverbank Program

The 2023-24 Riverbank Grants Funding round is now closed.

The Riverbank Program protects and enhances the Swan and Canning river foreshores. Its objectives include:

• To protect and enhance riverbanks and shorelines to mitigate threats to environmental, recreational, aesthetic or cultural values;
• To protect, enhance and manage fringing native vegetation and habitat; and
• To improve enjoyment of the foreshore by addressing risk to public amenity values, infrastructure and the environment.

Riverbank initiatives

Riverbank Funding

Riverbank Funding initiates and funds foreshore protection and rehabilitation works on public land through partnerships with State and local government. Since the Riverbank Funding program's inception in 2002, the State Government has contributed more than $27.2 million across Riverbank projects. This has been matched by riverside foreshore land managers across 352 projects sites, and in total represents a $59 million investment in the health and amenity of the Riverpark.

Applications for the 2023-24 funding round are now closed. It is anticipated the 2024-25 round will open in February 2024. Find out more about the application process.

Proactive

Proactive funding allows priority shoreline areas to be targeted with large projects that may span many years. Unlike the Grants scheme, sites for proactive funding are selected through a set of assessment criteria to priority sites. Once selected, State and local government agencies are proactively approached to develop partnerships and project plans. Partnership arrangements and project schedules between Parks and Wildlife and the land manager are defined in legal collaborative arrangements.

Items funded through the Proactive scheme must be consistent with the objectives of the Riverbank Program and contribute to improving the condition of shorelines and reducing the impact of threatening processes on biodiversity, infrastructure, cultural and/or social amenity values.

Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest program

In March 2021, the McGowan Government committed $3 million in funding over four years (2021-22 to 2024-25) to the Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest program. The program supports public land managers to deliver urban forest restoration projects within the Riverpark including tributaries and drainage lines in the Swan Canning catchment. This is a unique opportunity, with funding available for projects that address the following priorities:

• Improved condition, structure and function of urban forest ecosystems in the Riverpark and along drainage lines and tributaries in the Swan Canning catchment
• Improved habitat value and increased use by native fauna through revegetation
• Improved management of the Swan Canning Riverpark urban forest by State and local government
• Improved water quality entering the river
• Improved Riverpark amenity and use by Perth residents and visitors.

Applications for funding can be made at any time during the year and will be assessed to ensure they meet established criteria. Public land managers are encouraged to discuss project ideas with DBCA’s Urban Forest Coordinator, who can be contacted on 9278 0900 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange an online appointment or site visit. The Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest program grant opportunity guidelines are available in the downloads section below. This initiative is part of the WA Government’s Kep Katitjin-Gabi Kaadadjan (Waterwise Perth action plan 2) to establish leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030.

Best management practices for foreshore stabilisation

The best management practices for foreshore stabilisation aim to improve shore stabilisation management in the Swan Canning Riverpark. 

Riverbank Extension Plan

The Riverbank Extension Plan provides information, support and training to State and local governments directly responsible for the planning and implementation of foreshore restoration and erosion control projects in the Swan Canning Riverpark.

Foreshore Assessment and Management Strategy

The Riverbank Program has been working in the Swan Canning river system since 2010 to develop a management system that assesses the value of shorelines in protecting assets and geomorphology and providing riparian ecology and amenity value to Western Australians.

The Riverbank Shoreline Management System documents type, extent, condition and value the entire 330kms of Swan Canning natural and built shorelines. This Management System enables analysis of shorelines via asset management systems, asset-threat-response models, and social impact assessment of facilities. The system results in up-to-date data collation, immediate priority identification, clear risk communication, value for money financial resource distribution.

Local Government users can now access DBCA datasets that are restricted to use by LGAs, via the Shared Location Information Platform (SLIP). Four Datasets are available from www.data.wa.gov.au

• Swan Canning Riverpark Built Foreshores 2022 (DBCA-065)
• Swan Canning Riverpark Natural Foreshores 2019 (DBCA-067)
• Swan Canning Foreshore Useability 2021 (DBCA-068)
• Swan Canning Riparian Ecology Foreshores 2019 (DBCA-066)

Queries can be directed to Riverbank officers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (08) 9278 0900