Environment: 2007-08 Budget initiatives
Natural Resource Management
Natural Heritage Trust Phase Three
The Australian Government has announced funding in the 2007-08 Budget of $2 billion over five years starting from 2008-09 for phase three of the Natural Heritage Trust. The funding will maintain the momentum of community and industry action in partnership with the Australian Government to build capacity and deliver practical initiatives to restore, conserve and sustainably manage our environment and natural resources. Phase three of the Natural Heritage Trust will continue to address biodiversity decline, salinity and water quality issues, and increased coastal and peri-urban pressures.
Environmental Stewardship Initiative
The Australian Government is providing $50 million over four years from 2007-08 to provide incentives for private land managers to improve the quality and extent of targeted matters of national environmental significance through contracts of up to 15 years.
The programme will provide incentives and ongoing payments to farmers, among others, to encourage them to undertake environmental work beyond what they should be expected to do as part of their business responsibilities. On-ground work could include fencing, replanting and restoring degraded areas, and weed and pest management.
Australian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation
The Australian Government is providing $126 million over five years from 2007-08 to establish Australian Government leadership in climate change adaptation, including through a new national Centre for Climate Change Adaptation. The funds will support practical action across highly vulnerable sectors to manage the risks of climate change impacts in partnership with scientists, governments, industries and communities.
A Better Future for Indigenous Australians – Building an Indigenous Workforce in Australian Government Service Delivery – Working on Country
The Australian Government is providing $47.6 million over four years from 2007-08 to employ Indigenous Australians in remote and regional Australia to deliver the maintenance, restoration, protection and improvement of Australia's environment.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Field management
The Australian Government is providing $15.6 million over four years from 2007-08 to provide an increased level of protection for the reef, which will ensure sustainable recreational opportunities, tourism and fishing industries that support local economies.
Water quality monitoring Programme
The Australian Government is providing $14.2 million over four years from 2007-08, through the Natural Heritage Trust, to support comprehensive monitoring and reporting of water quality, to address threats to the reef such as coral bleaching. The funds will help gauge the success of strategies being implemented to improve water quality.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Sunrise Viewing Platform
The Australian Government is providing $15 million in 2007-08 to complete the commitment to build a new Uluru Sunrise viewing platform and associated facilities and roads in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The platform offers incomparable sweeping vistas of the Park and views of Uluru, and opens up a new section of the park to visitors.
Coal mine methane reduction
The Australian Government is providing $18.5 million over five years from 2007-08, partly funded from the existing Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme, to provide new incentives for reducing methane emissions from coal mines including capture, flaring or possible use at operating mines.
Crazy Ant control on Christmas Island
The Australian Government is continuing funding at $4 million over four years from 2007-08 to continue work aimed at reducing the destructive impact Yellow Crazy Ants have on Christmas Island's ecosystem.
World class weather forecasting
The Australian Government is providing $33.7 million over four years from 2007-08 to help maintain the national observational and monitoring networks which are critical to the Bureau of Meteorology's services. This will advance forecasting across timescales ranging from a few hours (nowcasting) to seasonable climate predictions.
Carbon sink forests
The Australian Government will introduce depreciation for the costs of establishing a qualifying carbon sink forest under the horticultural plant provisions with effect from 1 July 2007. As an additional enhancement to encourage the early establishment of carbon sink forests, the Australian Government will introduce immediate deductibility for costs incurred in establishing a qualifying carbon sink forest during a five year period commencing on 1 July 2007. The immediate tax deduction will take precedence over the general horticultural provisions during the initial five year period.
Providing this concession will increase the rate of establishment of carbon sink forests in regional areas and will deliver substantial carbon sequestration and natural resource management benefits.