Primary industries
The primary industries sector is the backbone of many of the State’s regional areas. This Budget invests:
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$182.0 million to deliver the 10-year NSW Government Marine Estate Management Strategy to improve water quality, estuary health and other biodiversity and environmental metrics.
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$163.9 million in 2022-23 to bolster the State’s response and readiness capability to future biosecurity incursions, including enhanced response targeting endemic species.
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$58.0 million to undertake repair work on state forestry roads and related infrastructure as part of the Forestry Land Stabilisation and Repair Program.
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$17.1 million to continue the Farm Business Resilience Program and Rural Financial Counselling Service, which provides farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to build resilience to future droughts and natural disasters.
Protecting and enjoying our natural environment
Investing in protecting and enhancing the State’s natural capital ensures the environment is sustained to secure a shared future for the wildlife and people of New South Wales. New investments include:
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$222.1 million over four years for the National Parks and Wildlife Service across the State, to support the following investments benefiting regional communities:
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the new Arc Rainforest Centre and Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk to showcase the ancient World Heritage rainforests of the Dorrigo escarpment
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the establishment of a Reserve and Activation Fund to fill critical gaps in the national parks estate and to enhance regional tourism and economic benefits
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$206.2 million over 10 years to enhance the State's natural capital by rewarding farmers who opt-in to a Sustainable Farming accreditation program.
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$106.7 million to establish a new Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund, to purchase and make available biodiversity credits for re-sale to public and private proponents, enabling sustainable development and rewarding landholders who use their land for conservation.
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$32.9 million to boost the State’s early detection and response to biosecurity threats on Lord Howe Island and protect the Island’s World Heritage ecological values.
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$24.2 million for essential environmental monitoring for air quality forecasting and alerts, and to expand water quality monitoring to more swim sites across New South Wales.
Significant existing environmental programs that maintain the Government’s focus on natural capital involve:
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$145.9 million to continue to deliver the NSW Koala Strategy, targeted at conservation actions with the long-term goal of doubling koala numbers in New South Wales by 2050.
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$60.0 million to continue the Saving our Species program, the State’s flagship threatened species conservation program, maximising the number of threatened species and ecological communities that are secure in the wild.
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Continued delivery of the $49.4 million Gardens of Stone Walk near Lithgow to showcase the State’s diverse natural and cultural heritage assets.
