The Conservation Council of the ACT Region has welcomed the ACT Government’s 2026-27 Budget announcement to fund community environment initiatives.
“An uplift in funding to support community groups to deliver biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection projects is a great investment in our nature,” Conservation Council Executive Director Simon Copland said.
“We are especially pleased to see funding flow directly to some of our hardworking member groups, including Landcare ACT, ACT Wildlife, and the National Parks Association of the ACT. These volunteer-powered organisations do critically important work to protect native wildlife and restore our environment across the ACT.”
“This Budget recognises that community groups and their volunteers are the lifeblood of conservation in our region, and provides them with operational certainty into the future. You can’t do long-term conservation on a short-term budget.”
The Conservation Council had flagged urgent concerns about funding cliffs for invasive species management and biosecurity programs in its pre-budget submission.
“Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our region’s biodiversity, and we’re relieved the Government has listened to our concerns. Continuing to fund a biosecurity response team and introducing a new community weeds grant category to the ACT Environmental Grants Program are strong steps in the right direction.”
The Government is also investing in finalising the next ACT Climate Change Strategy, extending rebates available under the Home Energy Support Program, continuing the Renters’ Home Energy Advice Program, and expanding the Sustainable Household Scheme by increasing the cap on the scheme to $20,000 and including electric cargo bikes.
“We welcome these really important investments in supporting the ACT’s net zero transition and will continue to push the Government to ensure that their investment is proportionate to the scale of the climate emergency. We look forward to receiving further details on these investments and the release of the next ACT Climate Change Strategy.”