Insidewaste___PREBIND_LR August 2016 | Page 14

News // NSW budget: $2.5M for CDS; $67M for waste AMONG this year’s NSW budget highlights are $175 million allocated to the EPA and $2.5 million to implement a state-wide container deposit scheme. All up, environment and heritage has received $1.7 billion. Releasing the budget in June, NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian announced a surplus of $3.4 billion in 2015-16, rising to $3.7 billion in 2016-17, alongside surpluses averaging $2 billion projected over the next four years. Turning to the environment, $175 million has been announced for the operation of a “modern and independent Environment Protection Authority” the EPA had a budget of $160 million in 2015-16 - while $100 million has been provided to the Environmental Trust to “increase opportunities for the community, industry, and agencies to protect environments through restoration, research, education and support programs.” Qld CDS: the wheels are turning A Queensland container deposit scheme (CDS) now has the support of both the government and the Opposition and an advisory group has been set up. In early June, Opposition leader Tim Nicholls announced that the LNP would support a CDS, which the Labor government had committed to investigating at the last election. Environment Minister Steven Miles welcomed the announcement, adding that there was funding in the state budget to develop a scheme (more on page 10). He said he had also written to the new shadow Minister for the Environment Christian Rowan to congratulate him on his appointment and offered to brief him on the progress of the CDS. An advisory group has also been established in Queensland to assist in getting a better understanding of the EnviroCom Australia EDUCATION TRAINING RESEARCH EnviroCom Australia® is an experienced environmental consultancy specialising in education, research and training services to the public and private sectors since 1998. Providing integrated services that link:  education program planning and delivery;  community and business research;  curriculum resource development;  community behaviour change programs;  corporate and business training;  waste stream assessment and reporting;  waste management planning. www.envirocom.com.au Brisbane P: (07) 3457 2400 New South Wales P: (02) 9724 3889 Sunshine Coast P: (07) 5494 5100 Victoria P: (03) 9703 5288 A further $10 million has been allocated to the EPA to address contaminated sites and $2.5 million to implement a CDS as part of the government 2015 election commitment. The EPA’s funding also includes $67 million that will go towards “transforming waste management in NSW and increased education around better waste management practices.” Local government has also received a s