On 1 May 2012, the 2012-13 Victorian Budget was handed down by the Treasurer, Kim Wells MP. Under the environment, climate change, energy, water and resources portfolios, the budget included:
- More than $157 million of new funding to improve waterways, reduce bushfire risk.$3.8 million – to support and develop organics recycling across the Victoria – to transform Melbourne’s food and garden waste into valuable products;
- An additional $43.7 million – to support the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations for more planned burns and for free mapping data to emergency response agencies;
- More than $100 million – over the next four years to improve the health of waterways and environmental water flows;
- $35.1 million – for this coming year to scale-up the planned burning program to 250,000 hectares in 2012-13 to help reduce the risk of bushfires to communities. This is on top of the base funding that has already been committed for planned burning efforts in 2012-13;
- $8.6 million – will be invested over the next four years to provide data mapping free of charge to other emergency response agencies. This new funding supports the delivery of Recommendation 16 of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission for this service;
- $33.7 million – over five years for a package of new measures, including stronger government oversight of the smart meter program and protecting Victoria’s interests during the introduction of the Commonwealth Government’s carbon price;
- $62.5 million – over three years to progressively replace the most dangerous powerlines in the state with new technology;
- $4.4 million – over three years for Victoria to meet its obligations to share operational funding of the Australian Energy Market Commission;
- $41 million – to renewable and low emissions technology by increasing funding for the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS);
- An additional $625,000 would be invested in Geoscience Victoria – to investment in geological information to drive exploration and development of Victoria’s minerals and energy resources;
- $66 million – over the next four years with a responsible and necessary approach to improving water management in Victoria;
- $50.4 million– over 4 years will be invested to improve water resource measurement and management;
- $7.25 million – to review Victoria’s water legislation and co-ordinate activities under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan;
- An additional $10 million – to establish the Office of Living Victoria (OLV) to reform the urban water sector and improve the way we use water.
Victoria’s Environment and Climate Change Minister, Ryan Smith said “ the 2012-13 Budget will complement a range of initiatives and measures that will receive funding already identified in 2012-13, including nearly $100 million towards measures such as:
- Communities for Nature;
- Conserve, Invest, Save resource recovery and energy efficiency measures;
- Energy efficient rebates for low income homes;
- Sustainable Schools (ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic);
- Victoria Local Sustainability Accord;
- Metropolitan Organics Strategy;
- Regional Organics Strategy;
- Driving Investment in New Recycling;
- Rural Landfill Improvement Package;
- Regional Waste Management Groups Support Package;
- Funding to Catchment Management Authorities;
- Landcare 60 Facilitators;
- Landcare Grants;
- Protection of beaches and foreshores;
- Free Zoos for children under 16;
- Kokoda Memorial Wall – Dandenong Ranges National Park;
- Park Rangers;
- Wildlife Shelter Grants; and
- Natural Resources Investment Program.”
A full copy of the 2012-13 Victorian Budget is available.
