Mother Nature was the region's big State Budget winner last night, with a major focus on healthy waterways and cracking down on environmental vandals, and millions to be invested in Great Barrier Reef protection programs.

The Budget provides $80 million over five years (including $16 million in 2013-14) for natural resource management in Queensland, including the Paddock to Reef protection program.

Key highlights of the Budget's 2013-14 environmental funding include:

• Continued funding for Queensland’s 14 regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies, to protect and preserve natural resources, including $16 million this year to the the Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Investment Program, to be put towards protection of the GBR;
• An additional $1 million for the second round of Everyone’s Environment Grants projects, with a total of $4 million set aside to fund grassroots projects in communities across the State;
• $2.8 million over three years for the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, which aims to reduce the impact of agricultural run-off;
• $8 million for the GBR Marine Park Authority, as the body responsible for protecting the Reef;
• $4 million over the next two years for the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership;
• Support for the inaugural Great Barrier Reef Masters Games in August;
• Increased funding of $8 million into the Investing in Our Environment for the Future program aimed at building resilience in waterways around South East Queensland; and
• $10 million to the Reef Protection Program, as part of the Government’s $35 million per year commitment to the Great Barrier Reef Plan.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said his department’s budget focussed on helping community groups protect and enhance the environment while taking a hard-line against those who fail to meet their responsibilities.

He said the budget "reflects the Government’s commitment to striking a balance between economic development and the responsible management of our land, water and environmental values."

It’s good news for the GBR, after last year’s Budget failed to review the mass dredging plan which caused ‘extreme concern’ within the international community according to the Greens.

In July last year, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee criticised management of the Reef and raised concerns about the impact of gas and coal processing, instructing the Australian Government to undertake a strategic assessment.

A 2012 Australian Institute of Marine Sciences study indicated the GBR's coral cover could be as low as five percent by 2022.

The Queensland Government announced today it would engage directly with UNESCO on matters relating to the Great Barrier Reef.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the Newman Government could not rely on the Commonwealth or Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to provide unbiased, accurate assessments of the many actions Queensland was taking to protect the reef.

“We do not have confidence in the Gillard Government or Minister Burke,” Mr Seeney said.

"Our record in relation to protecting the reef, and on environmental matters generally, will stand up to the most intense security."