Environment

In 2016‑17, the Commonwealth will provide funding of $691.7 million to support State environment services, as detailed in Table 2.10.

(a) Funding amounts are not published for 2017‑18 onwards as negotiations are yet to be finalised.

National Partnership payments for the environment

(a) State allocations from 2016‑17 have not yet been determined and are subject to the extent of drought‑affected areas.

The Commonwealth will provide funding for the National Partnership on assistance for pest animal and weed management in drought‑affected areas. This National Partnership will assist drought‑affected farm businesses with installing water‑related infrastructure and with managing the impacts of pest animals and weeds.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on bushfire mitigation. This National Partnership enables States to implement long‑term bushfire mitigation strategies and improved fuel reduction activities.

(a) State allocations from 2016‑17 are subject to negotiation.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership for the development of business cases for constraints measures. This National Partnership supports the development of business cases that detail proposals to ease or remove constraints to the delivery of water to the environmental assets of the Murray‑Darling Basin.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on the environmental management of the former Rum Jungle Mine site (Stage 2). This National Partnership continues the programme of work established to improve the daily management of the site and to further develop a rehabilitation strategy, in partnership with stakeholders, including the site's traditional owners.

A new spending measure associated with this National Partnership is discussed in Budget Paper No. 2, Budget Measures 2016‑17.

The Commonwealth will provide funding for the National Partnership on the management of established pests and weeds. This National Partnership supports delivery of projects to build the skills and capacity of landholders, the community and industry in managing common established pest animals and weeds.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative. This National Partnership continues capping of uncontrolled bores and piping open bore drains to reduce water loss and recover groundwater pressure, maintenance of critical infrastructure and other activities to support the sustainable management and use of Great Artesian Basin water resources. The Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative is being delivered through State agencies, with the Commonwealth contributing jointly with the States and private bore owners.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on the implementation of the National Insurance Affordability Initiative to reduce flood risk and bring about reductions in insurance premiums. The National Insurance Affordability Initiative is providing funding for the construction of a flood levee in Roma and improving flood defences in Ipswich.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on implementing water reform in the Murray‑Darling Basin. This National Partnership supports the cooperative implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray‑Darling Basin. This Agreement will ensure continuing progress in restoring the Basin's rivers to health and securing strong regional communities and sustainable food and fibre production.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership for Management of the World Heritage Values of the Tasmanian Wilderness. This National Partnership supports the management of the World Heritage values of the areas added to the Tasmanian Wilderness in 2013 and progress with the cultural heritage values study of the property.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership for mechanical fuel load reduction trials to undertake research that examines the effectiveness of mechanical fuel removal in forests where conservation values could be compromised by fuel reduction burning.

(a) These figures include payments direct to local governments.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the Water‑proofing Eastern Adelaide Project as part of the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan. This project will help secure water supplies by reducing the use of potable water.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the Chaffey Dam project under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns.

(a) Funding amounts are not published for 2017‑18 to 2019‑20 as negotiations are yet to be finalised.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on natural disaster resilience which supports the States to strengthen community resilience and minimise the impact of a range of natural disasters in Australia.

This National Partnership is a joint funding arrangement that provides the flexibility for States to address their specific natural disaster risk priorities. This arrangement recognises that the Commonwealth and the States have a mutual interest in reducing the impact of, and increasing resilience to, natural disasters. It formalises their commitment to work together with other parties, such as volunteers, the private sector and local government, to achieve this outcome.

(a) State allocations are indicative estimates only. Funding is conditional on agreed national responses to pest or disease incursions.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on pest and disease preparedness and response programmes. The funding contributes to agreed activities for pest and disease preparedness and response programmes.

Commonwealth funding contributes to national programs to eradicate exotic animal and plant pests and diseases, which if allowed to establish and spread, would have serious economic and environmental impacts. The Commonwealth is involved owing to the potential implications for biodiversity, market access issues for agricultural products and the need to protect nationally significant environmental assets.

National Partnership on the South Australian River Murray Sustainability Programme

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on the South Australian River Murray Sustainability Programme. The four components of this National Partnership support the Murray‑Darling Basin water reforms by contributing to a healthy working river system, strong communities and sustainable food and fibre production, while providing certainty for affected communities and water users.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for South Australia to deliver a grants programme to support more efficient delivery and use of water by irrigation water providers and irrigators. The programme also enables South Australian irrigators to sell their water entitlements to the South Australian Government for the environment. In total, these two components aim to return 36 gigalitres (long term average annual yield) of 'gap bridging' water to the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for South Australia to deliver a grants programme to improve the productivity of the South Australian River Murray irrigation industry.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the redevelopment of the Loxton Research Centre, a programme of industry led research and a Regional Development and Innovation programme. This component aims to create opportunities for economic diversification and regional development for Basin communities in South Australia.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Programme. This funding is provided under a number of arrangements, such as the National Partnership on Water for the Future and Water Management Partnership Agreements relating to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray‑Darling Basin Reform.

This programme funds most of the water recovery to 'bridge the gap' under the Murray‑Darling Basin Plan. This programme is also improving the efficiency and productivity of rural water management and usage, delivering substantial and lasting water returns to the environment, helping secure a long term sustainable future for irrigated agriculture and communities, and improving the health of wetlands and freshwater ecosystems.

National Partnership on the Water Infrastructure Development Fund

The Commonwealth will provide funding for the National Partnership on the Water Infrastructure Development Fund. The objective of the Fund is to facilitate long‑term economic and regional development through:

• enhancing the knowledge base underpinning water infrastructure planning and decision making;
• undertaking the detailed planning required to inform water infrastructure investment decisions; and
• expediting the construction of water infrastructure.

(a) State allocations from 2015‑16 have not yet been determined.

The Commonwealth will provide funding to support delivery of feasibility studies that inform investment decisions on water infrastructure.

A new spending measure taken in the 2016‑17 Budget as part of this programme is discussed in Budget Paper No. 2, Budget Measures 2016‑17.

(a) State allocations from 2017‑18 have not yet been determined.

The Commonwealth will provide funding of up to $450 million to part fund the capital construction costs of a small number of high priority water infrastructure projects to help secure the nation's water supplies and deliver strong and sustainable economic benefits for Australia.

The Commonwealth is providing funding for the National Partnership on whale and dolphin entanglements. This National Partnership supports State Governments to purchase equipment and training aimed at improving responses to whale and dolphin entanglements. This funding forms part of the Commonwealth's broader Whale and Dolphin Protection Plan.