South Australian Budget allocates funding to help protect the state’s environment

The wildlife rehabilitation sector, maintaining the health of River Murray and expanding a National Park at the centre of a World Heritage bid will be supported following the South Australian 2025-26 State Budget allocation of $159.1 million in new measures to help protect the state’s environment.

The State Government is investing $4 million in a 26,000-hectare expansion of Nilpena Ediacara National Park, which forms part of a World Heritage bid for a section of the Flinders Ranges.

In partnership with the Federal Government, significant investment is also being made to ensure the state’s most important natural resource, the River Murray, remains in good health for agriculture, tourism and the environment.

$7.6 million is also to be delivered over four years from 2025-26 to support the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector, provide grants for veterinary support for injured wildlife and improve the health of South Australia’s biodiversity.

Additional environmental highlights in the 2025-26 State Budget include:

• $71.1 million over three years for River Murray constraints measures which remove barriers to the delivery of environmental water to floodplains and wetlands.

• $20.9 million over three years for councils to reduce the reliance on River Murray water by investing in alternative water resources and infrastructure.

• $14 million in 2025-26 for the continued replenishment of sand at West Beach and other Adelaide coastal areas.

• $5 million over four years to continue the delivery of the Great Artesian Basin Water Security Program, extending capping of uncontrolled bores and piping open bore drains to reduce water loss and recover groundwater pressure.

• $3.3 million over three years will be spent modernising the planning, forecasting and delivery processes for environmental water across the Southern Connected Basin.

• $2.4 million over four years for drainage and infrastructure upgrades in South Australia’s South East to ensure the sustainability of the local community, emergency services, agribusiness and tourism industries.

• $1.7 million over three years for the ongoing position of Commissioner for the River Murray, who will continue to fight for essential outcomes to protect the river.