4611.0 - Environment Expenditure, Local Government, Australia, 2000-01  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/10/2002   
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Local government spends $2.5 billion on environment protection and $1.8 billion on natural resource management in 2000-01

Environment expenditure, By domain - 2000-01
Graph - Environment expenditiure, By domain - 2000-01



Local government has been found to be a major player in protecting Australia's environment and in managing its natural resources. Australian local government spent a total of $2.5 billion on measures to protect the environment and $1.8 billion on natural resource management in 2000-01.

There are two main types of expenditure considered to have an impact on the environment. These expenditures and related revenues are divided into two accounts, 'Environment Protection' and 'Natural Resource Management' (see 'Description of Accounts').

Environment Expenditure, Local Government, Australia 2000-01 (Cat. No. 4611.0) is the fourth publication in a series of annual publications designed to provide statistics on environment expenditure and revenue by local government authorities. It is a part of the environment accounts series for Australia. This collection is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the world, with almost half of Australian local government authorities contributing. A number of other countries and international organisations, including the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, are taking a strong interest in this collection.


MAIN FINDINGS

Environment Protection - 2000-01
    • Australian local government spent a total of $2.5b on environment protection services and activities in 2000-01. This was an average of $130 per person.
    • Traditional council activities such as solid waste management ($1.1b) and waste water treatment ($1.2b) were the dominant activities. The remainder was spent on other environment protection activities, including replanting trees and habitats, preventing and correcting land degradation, controlling weeds in nature reserves, protecting local water courses and environmental education programs.
    • Expenditure for environment protection was 7% ($164m) more than local governments received in revenue. This meant that some councils funded these measures from other council revenue.
    • Total revenue for environment protection activities amounted to $2.3b in 2000-01.
    • Ratepayers (both households and businesses) funded $2b (85%) of total revenue for local government activities on environment protection activities. State and Commonwealth governments contributed 7% ($169m) of total revenue. Of this, state government provided $141m and the Commonwealth Government $28m. The remainder was funded through other local government activities, such as donations and business grants.
    • New South Wales councils spent more than any other state on environment protection ($997m). Queensland collected the most revenue for environment protection ($994m), and they also spent the most on a per capita basis ($214). Tasmanian councils had the second highest per capita expenditure of $173 per person.

Natural Resource Management - 2000-01
    • Councils spent $1.8b on management of natural assets and activities aimed at making more efficient use of these resources. This was an average of $92 per person.
    • Natural resource management expenditure on land management activities was $933m with land management revenue of $218m. Water supply expenditure was $771m with revenue of $1.1b. The remainder of expenses and revenue was for other natural resource management activities.
    • Expenditure on land management activities was $933m, with revenue of only $218m. Expenditure on water supply was $771m with revenue of $1.1b.
    • Expenditure on natural resource management was 32% ($433m) more than local governments received in revenue. This meant that some councils funded these measures from other council revenue.
    • Total revenue for natural resource management amounted to $1.8b in 2000-01.
    • Ratepayers(both households and business) funded $1.1b (81%) of total revenue for local government natural resource management activities, with state and Commonwealth governments contributing a further 5% ($62m). The remainder of revenue was funded through other local government activities, such as donations and business grants.
    • Queensland councils collected the most revenue ($758m) and spent the most ($628m) for natural resource management. On a per capita basis, Tasmania ($223) and Queensland ($173) spent the most on natural resource management.

Summary of Results, Environment revenue and expenditure, By account, 2000-01
Transaction
Environment
protection
Natural
resource
management
$m
$m
Revenue
Rates from household and industry
1,966.8
1,079.2
Government funding
169.3
61.6
Other
190.9
197.3
Total
2,327.0
1,338.0
Current expenses
Wages and Salaries
401.3
491.4
Operational expenditure
1,473.8
909.7
Total
1,875.1
1,401.1
Capital expenditure
Net acquisitions
194.5
99.3
Other
421.5
270.5
Total
615.9
369.8

    Environment Protection, By category - 2000-01

    Graph - Environment Protection, By category - 2000-01

    Natural resource management, By category - 2000-01
    Graph - Natural resource management, By category - 2000-01



    DESCRIPTION OF ACCOUNTS:


    ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACTIVITIES:

    Environment protection groups together all actions and activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction or elimination of waste, pollution or other degradation of the environment. The environment protection account is divided into six different categories: waste water management, solid waste management, biodiversity and habitat, soil resources, cultural heritage and other environmental protection activities.


    WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT

    Activities that correspond to sewerage operations and the reduction of waste elements reaching water bodies. Waste water reuse by council.


    SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

    Landfill and solid waste operations by council and the implementation of programs to reduce the amount of materials entering the solid waste stream.


    BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT

    Programs that focus on the conservation of natural species and habitats. Programs to re-establish native species back into the environment. The construction of barriers to halt damage from developments entering areas specified as having a value for biodiversity. Clean up and establishment of catchment zones for water bodies.


    SOIL RESOURCES

    Remediation of contaminated soils. Protection of existing soil from degradation and contamination by wastes. Remediation of degraded (salinated and eroded) soils in crown land and national park regions.


    CULTURAL HERITAGE

    Establishment and maintenance of cultural heritage sites. Programs to encourage the implementation of cultural heritage preservation by business and householders.


    OTHER ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

    A 'catch all' category for other environmental protection activities, e.g. noise and vibration control, ambient air and climate and general environmental education. Any environment protection activities which cannot be allocated into any of the above categories.


    NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES:

    Natural resource management covers all activities which manage natural resources and activities aimed at making more efficient use of natural resources. The three categories for natural resource management are: water supply, land management and development and other natural resource management activities.


    WATER SUPPLY

    The supply and use of inland water stocks. Maintenance of quality and purification of water supply. Programs to encourage water conservation plans.


    LAND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

    The development by zoning of land resources. The management of recreational parks and sporting fields. Management of crown land not reserved for native biodiversity. The processing of development applications and associated costs.


    OTHER NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

    Includes quarrying to provide raw materials for council works, research and development on alternative energy resources and measures to reduce energy consumption by councils.


    Further information on environmental expenditure by Australian Local Governments and a detailed state break down is presented in the report Environment Expenditure, Local Government, Australia 2000-01, (Cat. no. 4611.0).