Bibbulmun Track Foundation Secures Grant to Restore Mandalay Beach Section
Looking across Mandalay Beach. Photo Credit: The Life of Py
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation has secured a $47,948 grant from the 2025 State NRM Program Community Stewardship Grant to carry out much-needed maintenance between Mandalay Beach and Long Point near Walpole.
This section of the Track, constructed over 25 years ago, has become a high maintenance priority due to ongoing erosion and sand-slippage caused by much greater walker-traffic than the original trail designers planned for. The project will focus on stabilising the Track, repairing and fostering revegetation along trail margins, replacing damaged steps and laying sections of trackpad to minimise slippage, while repairing walk-arounds that are further destabilising the fragile coastal environment.
Three week-long volunteer campaigns are planned, with teams based at local accommodation. Volunteers will work with local resources, and towns like Northcliffe and Walpole will benefit from increased visitor activity. Excitingly, materials will be airlifted to the site by helicopter, and volunteers will work in small teams to ensure safety and efficiency.
“This grant allows us to continue the successful stabilisation work we’ve been doing over the past seven years,” said Andrew Chiswell, Maintenance Manager at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation.
“It will make the Track safer and more enjoyable for walkers while protecting the unique vegetation and delicate dune systems along this beautiful stretch of Western Australia’s coastline.”
Improving this section of the Track will enhance the experience for walkers, protect the diverse vegetation along the trail, and make ongoing volunteer maintenance more effective. The Foundation expects these improvements to support greater community engagement and benefit long-term stewardship of the Bibbulmun Track.
Get involved:
Visit www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/get-involved to learn more about how you can support the Bibbulmun Track Foundation’s work.
Supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program
