Fact sheet: Environment, Climate Change and Water
Environment, Climate Change and Water
The Australian Government has announced funding for a diverse range of environment, climate change and water in the 2008/9 Budget. The Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, released preliminary details of the $12.9 billion Water for the Future program on 29 April. The program, detailed in the 2008/9 Budget, includes some $10 billion for the previously-announced National Plan for Water Security.
The principal new elements of the program of direct immediate relevance to local government are:
- $1 billion over six years for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan (for centres with populations greater than 50 000), to establish new sources of water supply through desalination, water harvesting and recycling
- $255 million over five years for the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns (for centres with populations less than 50 000), to improve water infrastructure efficiency and identify new water sources.
Key climate change initiatives totalling $2.3 billion over four years to address both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change were announced in the Budget, including:
- $ 1 billion to make homes and communities more energy-efficient
- $ 260 million to reduce business impact on the environment
- $ 1.7 billion to support research into energy efficiency and clean energy options
- $ 130 million for the Australia’s Farming Future program to assist agriculture adapt to climate change.
The Government also released further details of the Caring for our Country program. The program, first announced in mid-March, may offer opportunities for local government to receive funding for targeted natural resource management projects which address the Government’s six priority areas:
- a national reserve system
- biodiversity and natural icons
- coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
- sustainable farm practices
- natural resource management in remote and northern Australia, and
- community skills, knowledge and engagement.
For information about ALGA's analysis of the Budget regarding Environment please contact:
- John Pritchard
- Executive Director, Policy and Research
Australian Local Government Association - Phone: 02 6122 9414
- john.pritchard@alga.asn.au