More than 100 Crown reserves across the state will benefit from the funding as part of the 2025-26 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund annual funding round.
However, only one allocation was given to Pittwater this round, for further weed control at Hitchcock Park, Careel Bay, with a further $28,600 allocated to the Northern Beaches Council.
The council will receive a further $615,000.00 under the scheme for works at Dee Why, Oxford Falls, Harbord, Manly Cove and Freshwater Beach - which has the biggest grant, of $550,000, for a ''New public amenities building''.
As a condition of the grants, the council must provide in-kind funding for these projects, doubling what will be invested in these works.
As a result of the grant for Freshwater, the council announced on Wednesday July 8:
''Northern Beaches Council is progressing plans for a new purpose-built public toilet block at Freshwater Beach, following community consultation and further review of the concept design.
The new standalone building, scheduled to begin in August 2026, will include accessible toilets, a family change room and unisex handwashing facilities, improving convenience and accessibility for beachgoers, families and the wider community.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the project would provide improved public facilities for a much-loved beach and reserve.
“Freshwater Beach is a special place for our community and attracts visitors from across the Northern Beaches and beyond,” Mayor Heins said.
“A first for Northern Beaches public amenities, is our inclusion of a toddler toilet within the accessibility/family change room.
“This new amenities building will also provide more accessible, convenient and family-friendly facilities, while supporting the broader improvements being delivered through the Freshwater Beach Masterplan.
“We appreciate the community’s feedback, which has helped ensure the building will benefit everyone.
“As one of our most popular coastal destinations, Freshwater Beach deserves facilities that reflect how people use the area today and into the future.”
Located at the northern end of Freshwater Beach Reserve, it is ideally situated near the new playground.
Completion of the facilities is expected in Autumn 2027 subject to weather conditions.
For further information visit Council’s Your Say webpage.''
The new amenities block will have:
- 2 x Accessible bathrooms (one LH and one RH) – one has a shower and the other is a Family Change Room with a toddler toilet
- 2 x Male Toilet Cubicles (this includes one ambulant toilet)
- 5 x Male urinals
- 6 x Female Toilet Cubicles (this includes one ambulant toilet)
- 2 x Showers in each of the Male and Female Bathrooms
- 4 x External showers
Grants are available to help maintain and upgrade reserves and associated public facilities. Funding is also allocated to control feral pests and noxious weeds to keep reserves in good shape for community use and to protect native plants and animals.
Crown reserves are public land set aside for the benefit of the community, supporting recreation, local events and environmental protection, and providing important spaces for communities across NSW.
The 2025–26 funding round focuses on practical works that improve the condition, safety and usability of Crown reserves, including upgrades to infrastructure and essential land management activities.
Standout projects in the 2025–26 funding round include:
$1 million to upgrade and revitalise the Jack Evans Boat Harbour foreshore in Tweed Heads, delivering major improvements to one of NSW’s most visited coastal public spaces
$1 million for chimney repairs and restoration at Walka Water Works in Maitland, preserving a significant heritage site and supporting ongoing community use
$1 million to renew the seawall and foreshore boardwalk at Picnic Point Reserve at The Entrance, improving coastal protection and community access
$58,575 for targeted weed control at Harrington Beach on the Mid North Coast, helping protect coastal vegetation and maintain the condition of this popular local reserve
$10,000 for fox control across Crown reserves in the Georges River area, helping protect native wildlife in urban bushland.
Eligible recipients of CRIF grant funding are Crown land managers including local councils, community organisations and authorised user groups responsible for the care and operation of reserves across the state.
Applications for the 2026–27 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund are open, with up to $13.5 million available for projects across NSW. Applications close on Friday 24 July 2026. Further information is available on the Crown Lands website. https://www.crownland.nsw.gov.au/reserve-manager/finance/crown-reserves-improvement-fund
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“These projects are about making sure Crown land continues to deliver for communities, whether that’s through better facilities, safer access or protecting the natural environment people rely on.
“Crown reserves are part of the fabric of towns and regions across NSW, supporting community life, recreation and local economies.
“By investing in these projects and opening a new funding round, we are continuing to support communities to care for and improve the places they rely on every day.”
Deputy Secretary Crown Lands and Public Spaces Joseph La Posta said:
“Crown reserves are places where communities come together, for recreation, events and everyday activities that are part of everyday life.
“This funding supports the people and organisations who care for these spaces, delivering practical projects that improve facilities, protect the environment and keep reserves open and available for community use.
“These projects will help ensure Crown reserves continue to support connection, participation and community life across NSW.”
Summary of approved project offerings for 2025–26
Recommended projects by reserve type Number of grants Value of grants % Value
General 17 $9,548,911 77%
Weeds 75 $2,599,532 21%
Pest 10 $ 308,371 2%
Total successful 102 $12,456,814 100%
Hitchcock - Careel Bay Playing Fields Works
The 2026 allocation for Pittwater Crown Lands is listed as:
250046W Hitchcock Park Foreshores to Northern Beaches Council: Careel Creek weed control and corridor regeneration. $28,600
The grant allocation to Hitchcock Park for 'weed control and corridor regeneration' is the fourth year in a row a grant specifically for this part of Pittwater has been allocated.
Residents may have seen works being undertaken over November 2024 to January 2025 at the north end of Hitchcock Park, with the creek that runs down from Bangalley headland and along the perimeter of the oval being cleared of weeds with a loader. Some improvements were also made to the bridge that connects the Careel Bay playing fields (soccer) with Hitchcock Park and a section at the northeast end of the field was cleared of weeds.
These works were funded under a 2023 CRIF grant allocation of $27,000, again matched by the council, which was then, as again in the latest 2024-25 CRIF allocations, for 'Control of invasive weeds at the Hitchcock Park Foreshore'.
See March 2023: $378,072 Allocated To Council For Weed Control - Governor Phillip Park Gets A Grant This Time: Full Details Of All 11 Sites - March 2023
In July 2024:
Hitchcock Park and foreshores: $28,600.00 - Weed control and regenerate native bushland at Careel Creek
See July 2024 report: Crown land reserves improvement fund: local grants 2023-2024 total $625,699.00
In July 2025 further money was allocated:
Hitchcock Park Foreshores: Weed control at Hitchcock Park Foreshores, Avalon. $28,600
See July 2025 report: Crown Reserves Grants 2025 Announced: Local focus on Weeds + Repairs to Long Reef Boardwalk + some pictures of council's recent works at Hitchcock Park - Careel Bay playing fields
On the Careel Bay Playing field- Barrenjoey Rd verge there has been extensive weeding and mulching along this section, and temporary fencing erected to prevent people parking on newly planted tube stock.
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Before weed clearing and deadwood from trees removed, June 5 2025 - this section had been cut back a few weeks beforehand so the bus stop wasn't engulfed in lantana and cassia
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July 2026
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Trees alongside this section - choked in weeds
Unfortunately weeds are currently still choking the trees around the Hitchcock Park and Careel Bay Playing fields, while the creek excavated a short time ago has again filled with refuse up to and into the new pipes laid down.
The area cleared now choked again which causes flooding:
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The other allocations to the council:
250094W Dee Why Cliffs Reserve Northern Beaches Council Northern Beaches Council Weed control at Dee Why Cliffs Reserve and coastal walkway. Northern Beaches Council $9,989
250105W Harbord Lagoon & Reserve Northern Beaches Council Northern Beaches Council Control and maintenance of invasive weeds along the riparian margin of Curl Curl Lagoon (Greendale Creek). Northern Beaches Council $29,988
250114W Meatworks Avenue Oxford Falls Northern Beaches Council Northern Beaches Council Weed control at Meatworks Avenue, Oxford Falls Northern Beaches Council $30,000
250203G Freshwater Beach Northern Beaches Council Northern Beaches Council New public amenities building at Freshwater Beach, Freshwater. Northern Beaches Council $550,000
250116W Parish Reserve for Manly Cove, Cumberland Northern Beaches Council Crown Lands - Default to Minister Weed control at Greenwood Waste and Landfill Recovery Facility. Ku-ring-gai Council $25,000
Central Coast Allocations:
250051W Central Coast Wetlands - Pioneer Dairy Land Manager Central Coast Wetlands - Pioneer Dairy Land Manager Tuggerah Lake (R1003002) Reserve Land Manager Woody weed control along South Tacoma Road wildlife corridor to improve threatened species habitat. Central Coast Council $29,322
250197G Picnic Point Reserve Central Coast Council Central Coast Council Renew the seawall and accessible foreshore boardwalk at Picnic Point, The Entrance. Central Coast Council $1,000,000
250289G Central Coast Wetlands- Pioneer Dairy Central Coast Wetlands- Pioneer Dairy Land Manager Central Coast Wetlands - Pioneer Dairy Land Manager Upgrades to the Multipurpose Hall including installation of solar panels, air conditioning, kitchen facilities and acoustic treatment at Central Coast Wetlands - Pioneer Dairy. Central Coast Council $156,519