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Swan sold down the river

Alan Morrison enjoys a day off fishing in the river near the Swan Brewery. Picture: Sharon Smith/The West Australian

The Barnett Government was facing further accusations of broken promises last night after it emerged election commitments for the Swan River worth about $16 million were not in the Budget.

Amid sweeping cuts to the funding of environmental agencies, the Budget did not include money for a range of measures spruiked by the Liberal Party in the lead-up to the March election.

They included about $5 million over four years for a project to strip nutrients entering the fragile Swan River system by restoring wetlands around Ellenbrook and building or repairing rock walls.

The omissions sparked a furious response from green groups after long-running grants and awards schemes were also scrapped.

Conservation Council of WA director Piers Verstegen deplored the Budget.

"When many ecosystems are only just hanging on, any reduction in funding to important programs . . . is a very serious blow," he said.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob acknowledged the Government's Swan River election commitments were left out of this year's Budget but said they would eventually be funded.

Mr Jacob also defended axing the community grants scheme, saying that it was a "fulfilled" previous election promise that had exceeded expectations.

Alan Morrison, of East Fremantle, queried why the State Government would not honour its funding promises to the Swan River Trust given the agency's role as a watchdog.

"The Swan River Trust is the main champion for the river we have," Mr Morrison said.