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Portfolio budget statements

Portfolio Budget Statements 2004-2005

Environment and Heritage Portfolio
Budget Initiatives and Explanations of Appropriations 2004-2005
Budget Related Paper No. 1.7
ISSN 1448-1219 (Online), 1448-1200 (Print)

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Part C - Agency Budget Statements (continued)
Department of the Environment and Heritage (continued)

Section 2 - Outcomes and Outputs Information (continued)
Outcome 1 - Environment

OVERVIEW

The following section provides details of the budget implications for Outcome 1 (Environment). Specifically it provides:

Relationship Between Outcome 1 and Contributing Outputs

The following provides a diagrammatic representation of the individual outputs under Outcome 1 (Environment).

Outcome 1 - ENVIRONMENT
The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

1.1 ATMOSPHERE

1.2 BIODIVERSITY

1.3 COASTS

1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND APPROVALS

1.5 HERITAGE

1.6 HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

1.7 INLAND WATERS

1.8 LAND MANAGEMENT

1.9 PARKS AND RESERVES
Note: Revenue from Government through appropriations contributes 85.3% to the total output price for this outcome for 2004-05

CHANGES TO OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS

There has been no change to the overall outcome or its descriptor.

There have been revisions to a number of its outputs (and sub outputs) to better reflect the Department's core business and services.

These changes include:

OUTCOME 1: The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved.

The Department of the Environment and Heritage (the Department) advises on and implements policies and programmes for the protection and conservation of the environment, including both natural and cultural heritage places, on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Department is responsible for administering a number of major environment programmes. The most significant of those dealing with natural resource management come under the umbrella of the Trust and the NAP. Both the Trust and the NAP are administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Department encourages, through leadership and cooperation, conservation and appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage, and ecologically sustainable management of Australia's coastal and marine resources. This includes assistance to the Australian community to appreciate and conserve Australia's natural and cultural (indigenous and historic) heritage places for current and future generations.

The Australian Government's flagship environment protection legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, is administered by the Department. The Act provides a national framework for environment and heritage protection through a focus on protecting matters of national environmental and heritage significance and on the conservation of Australia's biodiversity. Recent heritage amendments to the Act extend protection to places that Australians regard as part of their national identity. The Department also administers a range of other Acts to protect and conserve the environment.

Under recent heritage amendments to the EPBC Act, places that Australians regard as part of their national identity, will now be protected and conserved to the full extent provided for under the Australian Constitution.

The Department also works with Australian business organisations and industrial sectors, the community and other levels of government to protect Australia's atmosphere and to improve the environmental performance of Australian industry. This extends to providing independent advice through research, assessment and supervision on the protection and management of the Alligator Rivers Region.

Participation in the international community brings both benefits and obligations in dealing with environmental issues. The Department's international efforts are guided by Australia's national interests, our internationally shared natural resources, species and ecosystems, and an understanding that countries and peoples face a diversity of needs and challenges.

MEASURES AFFECTING OUTCOME 1


Great Barrier Reef - Representative Areas Programme
  2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
  $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Department of the Environment and Heritage 8,600 1,565 - -
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - - - -

The Government will provide total funding of $23.4 million over three years for activities arising from the implementation of the Representative Areas Programme from 1 July 2004. The Representative Areas Programme will increase the size of 'no take' fishing areas from less than 5 percent to 33 percent of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to better protect the Reef and its biodiversity. More than half the cost of this measure ($13.2 million over three years) is being fully absorbed from within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.

A structural adjustment package will be provided to assist eligible commercial fishers and others adversely affected by the implementation of the Representative Areas Programme. This will involve funding of $8.6 million in 2004-05 and $1.6 million in 2005-06. Eligibility criteria are being developed in consultation with the fishing industry and communities.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will undertake additional enforcement and compliance activities to implement the Representative Areas Programme at a cost of $2.9 million in 2004-05, $2.9 million in 2005-06 and $3.0 million in 2006-07. The cost of this element is being fully absorbed within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.

The Government will also provide funding of $2.2 million in 2004-05, $1.9 million in 2005-06 and $0.3 million in 2006-07 to educate and inform the public, tourists and industry about the new Representatives Area Programme. The cost of this element is being fully absorbed within the existing resources of the Natural Heritage Trust.


Natural Heritage Trust Extension
  2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
  $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Department of the Environment and Heritage - - - 300,000

The Government will provide $300 million to extend the Natural Heritage Trust for a further year to 2007-08. The Natural Heritage Trust was established by the Australian Government in 1997 to invest in the restoration and conservation of Australia's environment and natural resources. This funding will increase the Government's total investment in the environment through the Natural Heritage Trust to $3 billion.


Protecting biodiversity
  2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
  $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Department of the Environment and Heritage - - - -

The Government has made provision in the contingency reserve for funding in 2003-04 for biodiversity initiatives in Queensland and South Australia. This funding builds on the Government's existing commitments to protect biodiversity in Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust, and biodiversity in South-East Asia and the Pacific through the Regional Natural Heritage Programme.

Funding provided for this measure will be announced when negotiations on the properties are finalised. Provision has been included in the Contingency Reserve pending the outcome of the negotiations.


St George’s and St Paul’s Cathedrals - restoration
  2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
  $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Department of the Environment and Heritage - - - -

The Government will provide $5.5 million in 2003-04 for the restoration of St George’s Cathedral in Perth ($3 million) and St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne ($2.5 million). This funding will support efforts to repair and preserve these heritage buildings. Funding for St Paul’s Cathedral is in addition to funding of $2.5 million provided in 2001-02.

WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT MEASURE

Budget estimates - enhanced quality and timeliness

The Government will provide $88.5 million over four years (including $24.8 million in 2003-04) to implement the Budget Estimates and Framework Review recommendations that were endorsed by the Government in 2002. This amount includes $1.4 million in capital funding.

Provision for this purpose was made in the Contingency Reserve in the 2003-04 Budget pending consideration of funding for individual agencies.

(Refer 2004-05 Budget Paper No. 2 for further details. The 2003-04 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements also provided details in relation to the funding for this initiative.)

TRENDS IN RESOURCING ACROSS OUTCOMES

CHART 8: TRENDS IN RESOURCES FOR OUTCOME 1 - Administered, Departmental Outputs and Departmental Revenue from Other Sources ($m)

CHART 8: TRENDS IN RESOURCES FOR OUTCOME 1 - Administered, Departmental Outputs and Departmental Revenue from Other Sources ($m)

This graph shows the trends in resources allocated to Outcome 1 Environment from the period 1999-2000 to 2004-05, and the forward estimates through to 2007-08.

OUTCOME 1 - RESOURCING

Table 2.1.1 shows how the 2004-05 Budget appropriations translate to total resourcing for Outcome 1, including administered expenses, revenue from Government (appropriation), revenue from other sources, and the total price of outputs.

TABLE 2.1.1 - TOTAL RESOURCES FOR OUTCOME 1
  Estimated Actuals Budget Estimate
  2003-04 2004-05
  $'000 $'000
ADMINISTERED APPROPRIATIONS    
Special Appropriation    
Natural Heritage Trust Interest (1) 22,513 18,836
Sub-total Special Appropriations 22,513 18,836
Annual appropriations    
Bill 1 Grants and other payments    
Grants-in-Aid - National Trust 821 822
NEPC Service Corporation 429 429
Australian Biological Resources Study Participatory Grants 1,839 1,827
Natural Heritage Trust Appropriation Revenue (1) 134,777 302,607
Conservation of Rural and Regional Historic Hotels 1,138 0
St George's Cathedral, Perth 3,000 0
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne 2,550 0
Payment to National Cultural Heritage Account (1) 175 185
Regional Natural Heritage Program 772 4,228
Great Barrier Reef – Representative Areas Programme 0 8,005
Sub-total Appropriation Bill 1 145,501 318,103
     
Bill 2 Specific Payments to the states and territories    
Goondiwindi Serpentine Water Park 530 0
Boat Harbour and Sisters Beach Sewerage Scheme 1,000 1,000
Sub-total Appropriation Bill 2 1,530 1,000
TOTAL ADMINISTERED APPROPRIATIONS 169,544 337,939
Estimated payments from Special Account balances (2)    
Natural Heritage Trust of Australia 250,000 310,000
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Account 840 2,870
National Cultural Heritage Account 185 185
Total estimated payments from Special Accounts 251,025 313,055
(1) Administered Special Appropriation expenses are also shown in Table 1.5 Estimates of Expenses from Special Appropriations. Administered expenses from Special Accounts also appear in Table 1.6 Estimates of Special Account Flows and Balances.
DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS    
Output 1.1 - Atmosphere 13,874 14,723
Output 1.2 - Biodiversity 19,683 19,050
Output 1.3 - Coasts 3,098 6,425
Output 1.4 - Environmental Assessment and Approvals 12,206 12,230
Output 1.5 - Heritage 15,008 22,385
Output 1.6 - Human Settlements 23,581 22,498
Output 1.7 - Inland Waters 6,614 6,531
Output 1.8 - Land Management 3,046 2,850
Output 1.9 - Parks and Reserves 38,433 38,863
Non Attributable to Outputs(1) 1,116 0
TOTAL REVENUE FROM GOVERNMENT (Appropriations) 136,659 145,555
Contributing to Price of Departmental Outputs 81.8% 85.3%
     
REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES(2)    
Output 1.1 - Atmosphere 3,170 0
Output 1.2 - Biodiversity 7,118 5,438
Output 1.3 - Coasts 1,792 2,567
Output 1.4 - Environmental Assessment and Approvals 1,268 175
Output 1.5 - Heritage 1,675 870
Output 1.6 - Human Settlements 5,029 4,471
Output 1.7 - Inland Waters 5,818 6,662
Output 1.8 - Land Management 3,388 3,904
Output 1.9 - Parks and Reserves 565 262
Non attributable to outputs(1) 654 673
TOTAL REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES 30,477 25,022
TOTAL PRICE OF DEPARTMENTAL OUTPUTS 167,136 170,577
DEPARTMENTAL SPECIAL ACCOUNTS 0 0
TOTAL ESTIMATED RESOURCING FOR OUTCOME 1
 (Total price of outputs and administered appropriations)		 336,680 508,516
(1) Corporate services provided by the Department of the Environment and Heritage to the Australian Greenhouse Office and the National Oceans Office for the full year and the Australian Heritage Commission for the period 1 July 2003 to 31 December 2003. Corporate services component for the Director of National Parks is reflected under Output 1.9.
(2) Includes revenue from other sources (sales of goods and services)
 
AVERAGE STAFFING LEVEL (NUMBER) 2003-2004 2004-2005
Outcome 1 - Environment 834.0 884.0
** Staff supporting the Director of National Parks not included in 287.0* 275.0*
departmental staff numbers    

CHART 9: 2004-05 TOTAL REVENUE FOR OUTCOME 1

CHART 9: 2004-05 TOTAL REVENUE FOR OUTCOME 1

CHART 10: 2004-05 DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACROSS OUTPUTS FOR OUTCOME 1

CHART 10: 2004-05 DEPARTMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACROSS OUTPUTS FOR OUTCOME 1

CHART 11: 2004-05 DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES ACROSS OUTPUTS FOR OUTCOME 1

CONTRIBUTION OF OUTPUTS

The Department's outputs will contribute to achieving the outcome of protecting and conserving the environment, especially aspects of national significance, by the following outputs and Sub-outputs.

Outcome 1 Environment - The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

CHART 11: 2004-05 DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE FROM OTHER SOURCES ACROSS OUTPUTS FOR OUTCOME 1
OUTPUT CONTRIBUTION TO OUTCOME 1
SUB OUTPUTS
1.1 Atmosphere Contribution to the protection and sustainable management of the atmosphere
  • Fuel and air quality standards, and ozone protection
1.2 Biodiversity Contribution to the conservation of Australia's biological diversity
  • Biodiversity
  • Wildlife protection and trade
1.3 Coasts Contribution to the protection and sustainable use of Australia's coasts and oceans
  • Coasts, oceans, estuaries and coastal wetlands
1.4 Environmental Assessment and Approvals Statutory processes and statute related action regarding the referral of development proposals, their environmental impact assessment and their approval
  • Environmental assessment and approvals
1.5 Heritage Contribution to the protection and conservation of Australia's natural and cultural heritage places
  • Heritage conservation
  • Australian Heritage Council
1.6 Human Settlements Contribution to sustainable urban environments and industry
  • Human settlements
  • Environmental protection at uranium mines in the Alligator Rivers Region
1.7 Inland Waters Contribution to the ecological management of Australia's inland waters including meeting Australia's commitments to the Ramsar Convention
  • Rivers, groundwater and wetlands
  • Tropical wetland ecology and conservation
1.8 Land Management Contribution to the sustainable management of Australia's land resources
  • Land management
1.9 Parks and Reserves Contribution to the effective management of Commonwealth national parks and reserves
  • National reserve system
  • Protected areas

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR OUTCOME 1

The following Table 2.2.1 lists the performance information that the Department will use to assess the level of its achievement of Outcome 1 during 2004 05. It comprises two parts:

  1. overall achievement - planned performance information for the outcome overall; and
  2. qualitative and quantitative performance information for each administered item.
Table 2.2.1 - Performance Information for Outcome 1
(A) Effectiveness - Overall Achievement of the Outcome
OUTPUT EFFECTIVENESS – OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE OUTCOME
1.1 Atmosphere The atmosphere is protected.
1.2 Biodiversity Australia's biological resources are conserved and managed in an ecological sustainable way.
1.3 Coasts Australia's coasts and estuaries are protected and managed in an ecologically sustainable way.
1.4 Environmental Assessment and Approvals Environmental assessments and approvals protect the Australian environment, especially those matters of national environmental significance, in an efficient, timely and effective manner.
1.5 Heritage Australia's national and cultural heritage is identified, protected and conserved.
1.6 Human Settlements The sustainability of Australia's human settlements is improved.
1.7 Inland Waters Australia's inland waterways are managed in an ecologically sustainable way and Australia's commitments to the Ramsar Convention are met.
1.8 Land Management Australia's land resources are managed in an ecologically sustainable way.
1.9 Parks and Reserves Ecologically significant areas are protected and conserved by effectively managing Commonwealth Reserves, and improving the comprehensiveness, adequacy and representativeness of the National Reserve System.

(B) Performance Information for Administered Items
Grants-in-Aid – National Trust Quality Extent to which payments support National Trust heritage initiatives.
Quantity Nine agreements finalised by December 2004.
Commonwealth Contribution to the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) Service Corporation Quality The Australian Government's financial obligation to the NEPC Service Corporation is met.
Quantity The Australian Government's contribution to the operating costs of the NEPC Service Corporation is paid on time.
Australian Biological Resources Study Participatory Grants Programme Quality The Australian Biological Resources Study is administered and managed according to best practice, and supports taxonomic investigations into species/ecosystems of national priority.
Quantity Number and value of 2004-05 grants and contracts offered and funded by 30 June 2005.
National Cultural Heritage Account Quality Extent to which the use of the Account achieves the Australian Government's objective of preserving heritage objects by assisting their acquisition by Australian collecting institutions.
Quantity Number of objects acquired.
Regional Natural Heritage Programme (RNHP) Quality Implementation achieves the Australian Government's RNHP objectives, and undertaken in accordance with Australian Government financial, project management and audit requirements.
Quantity Number and value of RNHP projects established to approved funding targets and completed according to contractual requirements.
Development of Sewerage Schemes for Boat Harbour and Sisters Beach, Tasmania Quality Extent to which the project will achieve Government objectives.
Quantity Number of milestones achieved compared with those specified in the contract.
Great Barrier Reef – Representative Areas Programme Quality The Service Level Agreements with the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority and the Department of Transport and Regional Services achieve the Government's objectives in providing assistance to stakeholders affected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Representative Areas Programme.
Quantity Two Service Level Agreements are in place by early 2004-05.
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Account Quality The Australian Government's obligations under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 are met, including effective administration of the Act, management of the Halon Bank and programmes to phase out ozone depleting substances and minimise emissions of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gas.
Quantity License and enforcement actions are undertaken within statutory timeframes, supplies of essential use halon are provided within the requested timeframe and the number of facility inspections meets local ordinance requirements, and a phase out and emission minimisation programme is commenced.

NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST

The Trust is established under the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997. In 2002, the Government provided over $1 billion to extend the Trust for a further five years from 2002-03 to 2006-07. The Government will provide $300 million to extend the Trust for a further year to 2007-08, bringing the total commitment since 1996 to more than $3 billion.

Within its primary legislative objective "to conserve, repair and replenish Australia's natural capital infrastructure", the Trust will continue to focus on specific objectives of Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, and Community Capacity Building and Institutional Change. The Trust focuses on long term strategic outcomes; delivery of a substantial proportion of the funds through devolved regional planning; a greater emphasis on planning and scientific modelling; and an adaptive management approach requiring continuous review of objectives, strategies and timelines.

Under the extension of the Trust, funding is invested at three levels - national, regional and local through four programmes, Bushcare, Landcare, Coastcare and Rivercare. Trust outputs in 2004-05 will be in the areas of knowledge generation, capacity building and support for regional planning, as well as on-ground outputs delivered through priority regional projects and the Australian Government Envirofund.
Bushcare Programme
Coastcare Programme
Rivercare Programme
Landcare Programme		 Quality Investments are approved in accordance with agreed guidelines.
Bilateral Agreements signed with the states and territories reflect agreed priorities and delivery arrangements for the Trust.
Integrated Natural Resource Management Regional Plans meet agreed accreditation criteria.
Quantity All investments approved by Ministers in 2004-05 are provided with funding, in accordance with Trust accountability and acquittal procedures, to meet the Trust's objectives.
Bilateral agreements signed with each state/territory.
Number of investment strategies prepared and evaluated for which funding is agreed and specified in Partnership Agreements.
Number of individuals/community groups supported through Australian Government Envirofund grants.
Number of on-ground actions by type funded by the Trust.

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