Labor is promising a $1 million investment in Canberra's wetlands hailed by conservation groups as a "stunning" commitment to the city's natural environment.
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The opposition says it will clean up Canberra's wetlands if it wins government, using money saved through reforms to negative gearing and its closure of tax loopholes for multinationals and high income earners.
Labor is drawing on $200 million it has committed nationally to restoring urban waterways and habitat corridors to health.
Molonglo Conservation president Karen Williams welcomed the promise, calling it a "stunning" commitment.
"That kind of investment particularly coming to the community is absolutely vital," she said.
Federal governments aiming to restore natural areas required the guidance of community groups stewarding their local environments, Ms Williams said.
Labor's funding commitment recognised this by investing in local projects, she said.
ALP candidate for the electorate of Canberra Alicia Payne said the funding would go towards projects building wetlands to capture, clean and filter stormwater.
Concrete waterways would be turned back into natural creeks and riverbanks again, improving the quality of water flowing from them.
Wetlands across Canberra play a central role in slowing down the movement of water and filtering it before it enters Lake Burley Griffin.
Ms Payne said the investment would improve the water quality of Lake Burley Griffin and local waterways.
Urban wetlands at Sullivan's Creek in north Canberra, Ginninderra Creek in Belconnen and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands would also benefit, she said.
"The wetlands provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as being beautiful places for Canberrans to get outdoors and enjoy nature," Ms Payne said.
The funding from Labor would support the work of the ACT's hard-working volunteers, she said.
Among other projects to be funded under the program are revegetation and tree planting along corridors, and citizen science and education programs along creeks and corridors.