Overview

The Beach Cleaning Subsidy Program provides retrospective subsidy payments to eligible Crown land managers, including councils, committees of management and volunteer groups, undertaking routine beach cleaning activities on public beaches throughout Victoria.

The program supports public safety, community amenity, recreation and tourism, and contributes to the protection of environmental values by reducing litter and hazardous material in coastal and inland beach environments.

The program supports routine cleaning activities undertaken on eligible beaches between 1 October 2025 and 30 April 2026.

Key dates

Milestone

Date

Applications open 26 October 2026
Applications close 23 November 2026
Applicants notified Early 2027

Eligibility

Who can apply?

Only the following organisations may apply:

  • Victorian local government authorities
  • Crown land committees of management
  • incorporated volunteer organisations authorised by the appointed land manager
  • other organisations approved by DEECA with formal responsibility for management of an eligible beach.

Who cannot apply?

The following organisations and individuals are not eligible:

  • individuals
  • private landholders
  • private businesses
  • educational institutions
  • organisations without an ABN
  • Victorian or other state government agency or body (unless explicitly listed as eligible).

Funding information

How much funding is available?

Funding of $1.135 million is available for eligible beach cleaning expenditure incurred between 1 October 2025 and 30 April 2026.

This is a subsidy program. This means DEECA pays a share of eligible costs. It does not pay the full amount claimed.

What may be funded?

Funding is provided for eligible cleaning activities undertaken on a public sanded beaches along the Victorian coastline or an inland waterway, Port Phillip Bay or Western Port Bay.

For the purposes of this program, sanded beaches include natural surfaces made up of sand, fine pebbles or other fine granular material immediately adjoining a water body.

Funding can be used for eligible beach cleaning activities, including cleaning works, contractor services, waste disposal and recycling, and the materials needed to carry out these activities.

What will not be funded?

Funding is not available for volunteer labour, routine foreshore maintenance, coastal or environmental works, capital and equipment purchases, or administration and corporate overhead costs.

Application process

How to apply

Before applying, read the Beach Cleaning Subsidy Program Guidelines and complete the 2025–26 Beach Cleaning Expenditure Claim spreadsheet and Authorised Officer Declaration form:

Applications must be submitted through the DEECA Grants Online portal.

New application

Saved application

Applicants will receive an application number after submitting their application. They should quote this number in any correspondence about the application.

Late applications will not be accepted. DEECA may ask applicants to clarify information already provided, but applicants cannot materially change or improve an application after the closing date.

What supporting documents need to be provided?

All applicants must provide:

  • a declaration from an authorised officer confirming the accuracy of the information provided
  • a completed 2025–2026 Beach Cleaning Claim Excel spreadsheet, with one row for each expenditure item claimed.

For claims of $150,000 or less in total eligible expenditure: No invoices, receipts or proof of payment are required to be attached at the time of application.

Applicants must retain records supporting their claim for 7 years after submitting their application and provide them to DEECA if requested.

For claims greater than $150,000 in total eligible expenditure: Applicants must provide invoices, receipts or proof of payment for all eligible expenditure.

Before applying

Before submitting an application, applicants should:

  • read the complete guidelines
  • confirm that their organisation and proposed site are eligible
  • confirm that the activities undertaken are eligible beach cleaning activities
  • confirm that the expenditure claimed was incurred during the eligible funding period
  • complete all required application information, including beach and expenditure details
  • provide a declaration from an authorised officer
  • attach supporting documentation where required for the total value of the claim
  • retain records supporting the claim, including invoices, receipts and other relevant evidence, for 7 years after submitting the application
  • review your application to ensure all information is accurate and complete
  • submit your application by the closing date.

Contact

For questions about the subsidy program or eligibility: waste.programs@deeca.vic.gov.au.

For assistance using the Grants Online portal: grantsinfo@deeca.vic.gov.au.