Plans to boost Victoria's renewable energy industry and cut state emissions are off to a modest start, with the Andrews government making only a handful of new commitments in its first budget.

With much of the government's green agenda put out to review in its first year, focus was given to helping the public better access parks and waterway health.

To tackle climate change, the government did announce a loosely defined $12 million "action package" over the next year.

The budget papers said this would support industry, local government and communities to cut emissions and adapt to a warming environment, along with drought preparedness work.

A $20 million "New Energy Jobs Fund" - committed as part of Labor's 2014 election jobs pledge - was also established, though the finer details remain unclear.

Community-led renewable energy projects at Newstead and Woodend were backed as promised, with $300,000 given over the next 12 months.

The government is currently reviewing potential new state climate programs, including consideration of a Victorian emissions reduction target. It is also drawing up a renewable energy action plan, due later this year.

New spending to ensure the survival of the state's threatened animals and plants was put at $6 million over the next year. By comparison big cats at the zoo got $9 million over two years for a better enclosure.

River and waterway health was bolstered. The Thomson River will get 8 billion litres more water, costing $3 million. The Gippsland Lakes received $2.5 million to protect their health.

Significantly, $10 million was put towards repairing land around rivers and getting livestock out of waterways. The Andrews government has convened a panel of environmental and farming interests to advise on how to carry this out.

Across the state's parks, buildings, toilets, paths and roads will receive $11 million over four years for upgrades and new works.

"Victoria's pristine natural environment is part of our way of life and every family should have the chance to get outdoors and experience it for themselves," Environment Minister Lisa Neville said.

Environment Victoria chief executive, Mark Wakeham, said the budget was a good foundation for stronger environment decisions in the future and had largely delivered Labor's election commitments. But he added that the commitments lacked detail and were not up to the environmental challenge facing the state.

"Current processes underway to develop a climate change action plan, renewable energy and energy efficiency and biodiversity strategies and a plan to protect river corridors have all been supported in this budget with modest funding commitments, but will need serious investment in the coming year if they are to address the state's environmental challenges," he said.

The biggest new spend in the environment portfolio was $50 million over two years to continue burning on public land  to reduce bushfire risk. $7 million was also committed to remove hazardous trees next to roads.

For irrigators, $3.9 million was put aside to help improve on-farm practices and to help continue the Goulburn-Murray Water Connections and Sunraysia Modernisation project continue to meet promised water savings.

The Napthine government's bounty on foxes, a significant feral pest species, will continue with $1 million put aside over the next year.

The government also committed $20 million over the next for years to implement its promised phase out of commercial netting in Port Phillip Bay and Corio Bay and established better facilities for recreational fishers.

A suite of measures to protect the community that were recommended as part of the inquiry into the Hazelwood mine fire last year were also funded.