Rivers and waterways will get $100 million towards practical steps to protect them and promote recycling in the federal budget.
It also locks in the coalition's $3.5 billion "Climate Solutions Package", which includes $2 billion for emissions reduction activities.
The Practical Environment Restoration funding adds to the $1.1 billion National Landcare Program, which supports wetland preservation, sustainable farming and protecting native habitats.
"(This) includes funding for environmental protection projects, threatened species, the restoration of coastal land and waterways, and waste recycling," Environment Minister Melissa Price said on Tuesday.
The Climate Solutions Package includes an already-announced $1.38 billion for the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro development, and $56 million to develop the case for a second energy interconnector across Bass Strait.
The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomes the extra funding for emissions reduction activities, but says it's not enough to rebadge the Emissions Reduction Fund.
"Renaming it the climate solutions fund is no substitute for substantial policies like regulations, caps and trading schemes," ACF CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said.
"Five years of rising emissions are testament to that."
Ms O'Shanassy says the environmental space has seen a 39.7 per cent budget reduction since 2013.
Comparatively, diesel fuel tax subsidy would get $40 billion over the forward estimates.
"In this budget the government plans to spend $4.36 subsidising pollution for every dollar it spends on climate action," Ms O'Shanassy said.
The government is also putting money aside for community-led programs, including $9.2 million towards controlling the Yellow Crazy Ant population in Queensland.
Ms Price said since coming to power in 2013, the coalition had improved the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef to remove it from an "in danger" watchlist, and appointed Australia's first Threatened Species Commissioner.
Share
