Department Of Planning, Industry And Environment
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The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) was a department of the
New South Wales Government The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the executive state government of New South Wales, Australia. The government comprises 11 portfolios, led by a ministerial department and supported by several agencies. Th ...
, responsible for effective and sustainable planning to support the growth in the state of
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. It made plans based on evidence for the state's cities and regions, working with the community, business and local government to create places for people in NSW to live, work and spend their leisure time, while ensuring good access to transport and other services like shops and restaurants. The department was also responsible for the evidence-based assessment of state significant development applications. The department was renamed from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) on 21 December 2021. The DPIE was formed on 1 July 2019 following the 2019 state election and replaced an earlier Department of Planning and Environment and
Department of Industry Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
. The department was also responsible for the development of industry until these functions were transferred to the new Department of Regional NSW in April 2020.


History


Previous departments

The main planning department/authority in New South Wales had various names throughout its history. Starting with the State Planning Authority, which replaced the Cumberland County Council and the
Northumberland County Council Northumberland County Council is the Local government in England, local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Northumberland in North East England. Since 2009 it has been a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority, having also ...
in December 1963, previous planning departments were: *State Planning Authority (1963–1974) *New South Wales Planning and Environment Commission (1974–1980) *Department of Environment and Planning (1980–1988) *Department of Planning (1988–1995) *Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (1995–2001) *Department of Planning (2001 – April 2003) *Department of Urban and Transport Planning (April – July 2003) *Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (July 2003 – 2005) *Department of Planning (2005–2011) *Department of Planning and Infrastructure (2011–2014) *Department of Planning and Environment (2014–2019) The planning department adopted the "Department of Planning and Environment" name in April 2014 after
Mike Baird Michael Bruce Baird (born 1 April 1968) is an Australian investment banker and former politician who was the 44th Premier of New South Wales, the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Mini ...
became
Premier of New South Wales The premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, Westminster Parliamentary System, with a Parliament of New South Wales actin ...
. In 2015–16 the department approved major projects worth 20 
billion Billion is a word for a large number, and it has two distinct definitions: * 1,000,000,000, i.e. one thousand million, or (ten to the ninth power), as defined on the short scale. This is now the most common sense of the word in all varieties of ...
. Between 2014 and 2019, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) also existed within the Department of Planning and Environment. Previous environment authority/office/departments in New South Wales were: * Environment Protection Authority (1992–2003) *Department of Environment and Conservation (2003–2007) *Department of Environment and Climate Change (2007–2009) *Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2009–2011) * Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) (2011–2019) **under the Department of Premier and Cabinet (2011–2014) **under the Department of Planning and Environment (2014–2019)


Formation

The establishment of a new planning department was announced in April 2019 following the 2019 state election. The new department would be formed from the merger of the Department of Planning and Environment and
Department of Industry Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
, the latter formed in July 2015. The new department was originally planned to be named the Department of Planning and Industry. The Office of Local Government and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) would also be abolished and merged into the new department. The heritage functions of the OEH were an exception and would be assumed by the Heritage Branch within Department of Premier and Cabinet, later known as Heritage NSW. The abolition of the OEH and the lack of the word "Environment" in the name of the new department generated criticism from OEH staff, environmental groups and the opposition. In May 2019, the "Environment" word was added to the proposed name. All proposed changes took effect on 1 July 2019 and the new department was established. The new department was initially spread across a number of sites, mostly in the
Sydney CBD The Sydney central business district (CBD) is the historical and main Central business district, commercial centre of Sydney. The CBD is Sydney's city centre, or Sydney City, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or ...
. In January and February 2020, the department relocated and consolidated most of its staff in a newly built tower at 4 Parramatta Square. Shortly after moving into the building, the department was criticised by unions and some staff for spending $1,246,000 fitting out its new offices with indoor plants. The expenditure was not supported by the planning minister, Rob Stokes. In April 2020, the Regions, Industry, Agriculture and Resources division of DPIE was spun out as the Department of Regional NSW, a separate government department. On 21 December 2021, the reduced DPIE was renamed back the Department of Planning and Environment. Heritage NSW was transferred back from the Department of Premier and Cabinet to the Department of Planning and Environment on 1 April 2022. Legislation to create the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust passed on 29 March 2022, which would comprise Centennial Parklands (including Moore Park and Queens Park),
Western Sydney Parklands The Western Sydney Parklands is an urban park system and a nature reserve located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The NSW government has spent around $400 million for the park. The park is governed by the NSW National Parks and Wildli ...
, Parramatta Park, Callan Park and Fernhill Estate and their individual park trusts. The trust, along with the Luna Park Reserve Trust, Place Management NSW and the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, were transferred from DoPE to
Transport for NSW Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is a Government of New South Wales, New South Wales Government transport services and roads List of New South Wales government agencies, agency established on 1 November 2011. The agency is a different entity to the NSW ...
on 1 April 2022.


Dissolution

Following a media release on 18 August 2023, it was announced that, as of 1 January 2024, the department would be split into two new entities: the
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is a department of the Australian Government. The department was established on 1 July 2022, superseding the water and environment functions from the Department of A ...
, and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The former would also be joined by the Office of Energy and Climate Change, which was until then a part of the New South Wales Treasury.


Structure

Until its dissolution in 2024, the department was the lead agency in the Planning and Environment cluster, led by
Secretary A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...
, at the time, Kiersten Fishburn since October 2021. Between June 2021 and December 2021, the department was made up of six core delivery groups: * Water (including Hunter Water Corporation,
Sydney Water Sydney Water, formally, Sydney Water Corporation, is a Government of New South WalesState-owned corporation, owned statutory authority, statutory corporation that provides potable drinking water, wastewater and some stormwater services to Sydney ...
and Water NSW) * Housing & Property * Environment, Energy & Science (which replaced the Office of the Environment & Heritage) * Planning & Assessment * Place, Design & Urban Spaces * Planning Delivery Unit & Local Government There was also previously another core delivery group, Regions, Industry, Agriculture & Resources until it was transferred to the new Department of Regional NSW in April 2020.


Ministers

The department was responsible to the cluster's three portfolio ministers: at the time of its dissolution, the Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Heritage, the Hon.
Penny Sharpe Penelope Gail Sharpe (born 22 October 1970) is an Australian politician. She has served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2005, representing the Labor Party. Since March 2023, Sharpe is the Leader of the Government ...
MLC; the Minister for Water, the Hon.
Rose Jackson Rose Butler Jackson is an Australian Labor Party politician serving as a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 8 May 2019. Since 5 April 2023, she has been serving in the Minns ministry as Minister for Water, Minister for Hous ...
MLC; the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP. All ministers were ultimately responsible to the
Parliament of New South Wales The Parliament of New South Wales, formally the Legislature of New South Wales, (definition of "The Legislature") is the bicameral legislative body of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). It consists of the Monarch, the New South Wa ...
. The department administered the ''
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is an Act of the New South Wales Parliament. It is an " Act to institute a system of environmental planning and assessment for the State of New South Wales". Parts of the Act The Act covers ...
'' and the '' Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016''.


Agencies

The following agencies are included in the Planning and Environment cluster, administered by the Department: * Aboriginal Housing Office * Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW * Crown Lands * Energy NSW * Environment, Energy and Science * Environment Protection Authority * Environmental Trust * Government Architect NSW * Great Public Spaces * Green and Resilient Places * Land & Housing Corporation * National Parks & Wildlife Service * Natural Resources Access Regulator * Office of Local Government * Planning * Planning Portal * Property and Development NSW * Snowy Advisory Committee * Sydney Olympic Park Authority * The Rocks * Valuer General * Water Infrastructure


Priorities

The previous Department of Planning and Environment's corporate plan was outlined in ''Planning for Growing NSW: 2015–2017'' that aimed to plan for growth by inspiring strong communities and by protecting the environment. In keeping with this, the department's priorities were: * Enabling the creation of strong, vibrant communities * Make the planning system simpler, cheaper and faster * Supporting affordable and appropriately-serviced housing and employment land * Assessing major projects and infrastructure in a timely and efficient way, while ensuring appropriate planning outcomes


See also

* List of New South Wales government agencies * Urban planning in Australia *
Department of Industry (New South Wales) The New South Wales Department of Industry was a former Government department, department of the New South Wales Government, from 2015 until 2019. The Department of Industry was replaced by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in ...
* Department of Regional NSW


References


External links


Department of Planning and Environment websiteDPE Planning websiteDPE Environment websiteCity of Cities – A Plan for Sydney's Future
{{New South Wales Government Departments Urban planning in Australia 2019 establishments in Australia Economy of New South Wales Local government in New South Wales
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
Environment of New South Wales
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...