Some of Australia’s most iconic national parks are set to receive a major funding boost in the budget next month.
Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta will be among the national parks to benefit from more than $250mn in extra funding to address what the government has called years of neglect and “chronic underfunding.”
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office this week confirmed $262 million will be allocated to national parks, on top of more than $200mn already pledged for Kakadu.
The world-famous park in the Top End has faced a series of challenges in recent years including a surge in feral animal populations, poor road infrastructure and tourism sites left to the elements.
Parks Australia confirmed earlier this year feral pig numbers had doubled to around 70,000 since 2019 and that buffaloes and wild horses had caused damage to wildlife and sacred sites.
