NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for the Environment Michael Richardson today announced the establishment of a $300 million Clean NSW Fund for climate change and environmental projects throughout the state. 

“One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to preserve and protect the environment for our children and theirs,” Mr Debnam said.

“I want to implement practical measures at a community level to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve the local environment,’ he said.

“State Labor has sought to blame-shift to the Australian Government on climate change, while ignoring initiatives at a local level.

“The old adage ‘think globally, act locally’ applies to the environment, and the NSW Liberal/Nationals plan will do just that.

“Specifically, the NSW Liberal/Nationals will:

• Support renewable energy by promoting solar energy, solar hot water systems and investment in the CSIRO Energy Centre and clean coal;

• Encouraging alternative fuels through greater use of ethanol, LPG and registration fee cuts for LPG and hybrid electric vehicles;

• Clean our waterways to restore our rivers,

• Foster biodiversity by controlling noxious weeds and feral animals in National Parks, improving fire management, and by rewarding landowners and providing wildlife refuges;

• Improve waste management by working with local councils to achieve waste minimisation targets and green waste collection programmes; and

• Tackle climate change by setting mandatory renewable energy targets and rolling out smart meters to reduce energy use in homes.

“The NSW Liberal/Nationals will lead the way with policies that not only address community concerns on climate change, but invest in cutting edge renewable technology.

“In the same way we are determined to turn our water crisis into real solutions, we must do the same on energy.

“The fund will be financed through the sale of WSN Waste Services.”

Mr Richardson said we would allocate $40 million to co-fund the development of a solar power station in the North-Western NSW ‘Solar Triangle’.

“Solar energy is environmentally-friendly and relatively inexpensive,” he said.

“Energy security and environmental sustainability are essential to securing the state’s economic future.

“We will also roll out smart meters to reduce energy use in up to 50,000 homes, starting in areas regularly facing blackouts because of inadequate transmission infrastructure.

“On the research and development side, we will invest $10 million in the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle focusing on solar energy, geothermal power, and use of crop waste for electricity generation.

“We will also allocate $20 million for weed and feral animal control in National Parks, as well as developing better fire management in National Parks and State Forests to reduce the incidence of wildfires.

“To clean up and restore our rivers and waterways, we will provide $65 million funding for the Cooks River, Sydney Harbour, Parramatta River, Tuggerah Lakes, Pittwater and Brisbane Waters, Manly Lagoon, Hawkesbury/Nepean, Georges River, Port Hacking and Lake Macquarie.