State Environment and Resource Management Minister Kate Jones has said the State Budget would help the department lead environmental reconstruction work across Queensland with an increase of close to 10 per cent on last year’s allocation.

Ms Jones said the $1.1 billion DERM budget reflected its critical role in managing Queensland’s water, land, biodiversity and protected areas.

“Queensland’s environment took a big hit in this year’s natural disasters,” she said.

“We’ve already seen a lot of great emergency work from our officers on the ground looking after cassowaries in the north, reopening nearly 100 damaged national parks and monitoring the health of Moreton Bay and our river and creek systems.

“This budget commits $133 million over three years to allow us to enter the next phase of environmental recovery which is focussed on sustainability, long-term resilience and rebuilding stronger assets.

The includes $20 million over three years for the restoration of Queensland’s protected areas, including repairs to damaged essential assets in national parks, state forest and other protected areas.

“A further $10.5 million has also been allocated over four years for rangers to assist in managing our growing national park estate.

“We’re currently in the process of employing an extra 50 rangers which will take our total ranks to more than 800 for the first time.

“$3.9 million will also be delivered for new community based projects to support the Queensland Government’s soon-to-be-released Biodiversity Strategy.

“This is vital work supporting other activities being coordinated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.”

Ms Jones said other budget highlights included:

• Additional funding of $34.5 million as part of an additional $60 million investment to extend the ClimateSmart Home Service to 31 December 2012;
• Additional funding of $12.2 million over five years for programs aimed at improving water security for areas outside South East Queensland; and
• Additional funding of $2 million to reduce rural and urban pollution through the Healthy Waterways partnership.

Ms Jones said DERM’s role as Queensland’s environmental watchdog will continue with more than $27 million for the department’s strong compliance and regulatory regime, to crackdown on any breaches of Queensland’s tough environmental laws.

“Among a range of activities, this funding will allow our officers to undertake nearly 700 targeted inspections and audits of businesses and worksites across Queensland,” Ms Jones said.

“This budget will also continue to bolster the operations of the government’s LNG Enforcement Unit, to undertake the proactive monitoring of 300 bores in 2011 and another 300 in 2012, a total of 187 proactive inspections and audits across an extensive range of CSG operations, and the establishment of the CSG Compliance Portal, which will fulfil the government’s commitment to transparency.

“In addition to these proactive activities, the LNG Enforcement Unit will also continue to ensure that any complaints received about the CSG industry are promptly investigated and appropriate enforcement action is taken.”