25 June 2026
Environment and sustainability
The 2026-27 NSW Budget will invest:
Nature
$221 million on threatened species protection, incorporating:
- reform of the Saving Our Species (SOS) program by investing $195.2 million over three years to support targeted action, including feral animal control, tree planting, weeding and riverbank management and restoring landscapes for the most at-risk species.
- $26 million to support delivery of the NSW Nature Strategy, by setting targets for nature recovery across NSW.
Biosecurity
- $16.3 million to continue broadscale control programs targeting feral pigs and support priority regional pest management efforts across the state.
- Continuing the $100 million investment in the state’s critical biosecurity functions to mitigate risks to community, industry and the environment.
Energy transition
- $291.4 million in 2026-27 on upgrades to regional roads to support the transportation of equipment to renewable energy zones, and $14.0 million for local and regional infrastructure to support construction of NSW renewable energy zones.
- An initial $60 million for the Community and Employment Benefit Program for communities in the South West and New England Renewable Energy Zones to deliver local infrastructure, services and employment opportunities that will support long-term regional prosperity.
- $557 million in interest-free loans and discounts to install energy technologies under the NSW Home Energy Saver program.
Waste
- Revenue through the Waste and Environment Levy is budgeted to increase from $899 million in 2025-26 to $998 million in 2026-27, an increase of 11%. Disappointingly, there is no information on how the levy will be used, and there has been no update on the much-delayed review of the waste levy.
- $3.7 million has been identified for critical construction waste asbestos reforms – we look forward to more detail on what this entails and how it can contribute to making asbestos identification, removal, transport and disposal cheaper, easier, and safer.