The State’s parks and gardens are set for a tourism boost as part of the NSW Government’s $1.9 billion Environment and Heritage budget announced today.
“We are allocating $630 million to grow tourism and recreational opportunities by improving the State’s national park estate and available green space,” Environment and Heritage Minister Gabrielle Upton said.
“This is a major priority of the NSW Government’s commitment to protect and conserve the State’s environmental and heritage assets.
“The NSW Government wants to power the economy and preserve a resilient and liveable State by improving our unique environmental and heritage assets.
“Our goal is to grow the State’s national park estate and preserve our heritage, including our rich Aboriginal history.
“There’s more than $100 million to protect life, property, communities and the environment from natural disasters such as fire and extreme weather events.
“Other highlights for the year ahead include: $37 million to protect threatened species; $100 million to improve waste management and resource recovery; and $89 million to encourage landowners to maintain their sensitive habitats,” Ms Upton said.
In 2018-19, other key program investments across the portfolio include:
- Over $7 million ($59.5 million over four years) for the Western Sydney Centre of Innovation in Plant Sciences at Mt Annan to enable the protection of an internationally significant botanic collection and create a state-of-the-art plant science education and innovation facility
- $7 million ($74 million over four years) for strategic infrastructure to extend tourism opportunities and improve visitor safety in our National Parks
- Over $19 million (part of the $50.5 million co-funded by the NSW Government and Australian Government) for a visitor infrastructure and precinct, in time for the 2020 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the landing of Captain Cook and the meeting of two cultures, on the shores of Kamay Botany Bay
- $13 million to better manage contaminated lands and asbestos management.