Environment and Heritage
Australian Water Fund — Community Water Grants
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | 54.9 | 54.9 | 54.9 | 30.0 |
The Government will provide $200.0 million over five years (including $5.3 million in 2004-05) for the Community Water Grants programme. The programme will provide grants of up to $50,000 to eligible community organisations to encourage sensible water use. Eligible projects may involve increasing efficient water use, improving river or groundwater health, and educating communities on water saving.
The Community Water Grants programme is part of the $2.0 billion Australian Water Fund. Funding for the Fund includes the reallocation of earlier provisions in the Contingency Reserve for National Competition Policy Payments in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Since the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004-05, $1.0 million of the $54.9 million appropriated for 2005-06 has been brought forward to 2004-05 to allow for the earlier commencement of demonstration projects.
Further information can be found in the Government’s election policy documents Securing Australia’s Water Future and Water Wise Communities released on 13 September 2004 and 18 September 2004 respectively.
See also the related expense measure titled Australian Water Fund — Raising National Water Standards and Australian Water Fund – Water Smart Australia in the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.
Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | 4.8 | 22.1 | 22.6 | 25.2 |
The Government will provide $100.0 million over five years (including $25.3 million in 2009-10) for the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities programme. Of this funding $40.0 million will be provided for a Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility to support research relating to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforests and coasts. The remaining $60.0 million will fund additional environmental research and be allocated nationally on a competitive tender basis in rounds commencing in July 2006 and July 2008.
This measure was announced on 21 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Supporting North Queensland.
Further information on the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility component of this measure can be found in the press release of 22 April 2005 issued by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.
Green Stamp Programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | -0.2 | - | 0.2 | - |
The Government will provide $0.9 million over three years to fund a national Green Stamp Programme to encourage recycling in the automotive retail industry.
This measure will involve funding of $0.4 million in 2005-06, $0.3 million in 2006‑07 and $0.2 million in 2007‑08. The costs will be met through a reprioritisation of $0.6 million in 2005‑06 and $0.3 million in 2006‑07 from the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme.
This measure was announced on 8 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Australia.
Hydrogen Fuel Depots and Buses — scoping study
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.0 million over three years for a scoping study into developing hydrogen fuel depots and buses in Australian capital cities.
This measure will involve funding of $0.3 million in 2005-06, $0.4 million in 2006-07 and $0.3 million in 2007‑:08. The costs will be funded through a reprioritisation of existing resources in the Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme.
Subject to the findings of the scoping study, the Government will provide funding of up to $66.0 million between 2007-08 and 2011-12 as a contribution to the costs of developing hydrogen fuel transport and infrastructure. The cost of this component of the measure will be met from existing resourcing within the Environment and Heritage portfolio.
This measure was announced on 8 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Australia.
National Recycling Telephone Hotline
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.3 million over three years to develop a national recycling telephone hotline. The hotline will assist the general public to obtain information on recycling in their local communities.
This measure involves funding of $0.1 million in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08. The cost of this measure will be fully absorbed within the existing resourcing for the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
This measure was announced on 8 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Australia.
Regional marine planning — extension
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | 9.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.4 million in 2005-06 to progress the development of regional marine plans for northern, north-western and south-western Australia, and to implement the south-east regional marine plan.
This measure was announced on 7 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Our Plans for Australia.
St Mary’s Cathedral and the Church of St Mary’s Star of the Sea — restoration
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | 5.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.0 million in 2005-06 for the restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth ($3.0 million) and the Church of St Mary’s Star of the Sea in Melbourne ($2.0 million). This funding will support efforts to repair and preserve these heritage buildings.
Used oil recycling — uptake of technologies
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment and Heritage | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.0 million over three years (including $0.7 million in 2004-05) to develop and promote technologies which enable used oil to be reused as a lubricant.
This measure will involve funding of $0.7 million in 2004-05, $0.7 million in 2005-06 and $0.6 million in 2006‑:07. The costs of this measure will be fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
This measure was announced on 8 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Australia.