Department of Planning and Environment (New South Wales)

The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment was a department of the New South Wales Government between 2014 and 2019, responsible for effective and sustainable planning to support the growth in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Up until its abolition, 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.[3]:6,9 The Department was also responsible for the evidence-based assessment of state significant development applications. In 2015-16 the Department approved major projects worth A$20 billion.[4]

New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment
Department overview
FormedApril 2014
Preceding agencies
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure
  • Department of Planning
Dissolved1 July 2019 (2019-07-01)
Superseding agency
JurisdictionNew South Wales
Headquarters320 Pitt Street, Sydney[1]
Employees636 (2018)[2]:170
Annual budgetA$2.6 billion (2018)[2]:78
Ministers responsible
Department executive
Parent DepartmentDepartment of Premier and Cabinet
Child agencies
Websitewww.planning.nsw.gov.au

Following the 2019 state election the department was abolished and most of its functions were merged with the Department of Industry to form the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, with effect from 1 July 2019. Both the Department of Industry and the Department of Planning and Environment were abolished on the same day.[5]

Structure

The Department was the lead agency in the Planning and Environment cluster, at the time of its abolition led by Secretary, Carolyn McNally.

Ministers

The cluster's portfolio ministers were the Minister for Planning, the Minister for Housing, and the Special Minister of State, Anthony Roberts and the Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Heritage, and the Minister for Local Government, Gabrielle Upton.[6][7][8][9] Ultimately the ministers were responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

The Department administered the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979).[10]

Priorities

The Department'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.[3]:4 In keeping with this, the Department’s priorities were:[3]:7

  • 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

History

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 in December 1963, the predecessors of the Department of Planning and Environment were:

  • State Planning Authority (1963-1974)[11]
  • New South Wales Planning and Environment Commission (1974-1980)[12]
  • Department of Environment and Planning (1980-1988)[13]
  • Department of Planning (1988-1995)
  • Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (1995-2001)[14]
  • Department of Planning (2001-April 2003)
  • Department of Urban and Transport Planning (April–July 2003)[15]
  • Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (July 2003 – 2005)[16]
  • Department of Planning (2005-2011)
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure (2011-2014)[17]

The planning department adopted its most recent name in April 2014 when Mike Baird became Premier of New South Wales. In 2019, the department was abolished and most of its functions merged with the Department of Industry to form the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Agencies

The following agencies were included in the Planning and Environment Cluster which was administered by the Department:[4]

References
  1. "Contact us: Metropolitan-Offices". Department of Planning and Environment. Government of New South Wales. 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  2. "Annual Report 2017-18" (PDF). Department of Planning and Environment. Government of New South Wales. ISBN 978-0-9954207-7-9. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. "Plan for Growing NSW: Corporate Plan: 2015-2017". Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  4. "Annual Report 2015-16 |work=Department of Planning and Environment |". Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  5. "Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 [NSW] (159)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 7-8. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. Vukovic, Dom; Gerathy, Sarah; McDonald, Philippa (29 January 2017). "NSW Cabinet reshuffle: Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces big changes to front bench". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  7. "NSW reshuffle: Gladys Berejiklian axes Adrian Piccoli and Duncan Gay from cabinet". The Guardian. Australia. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  8. Robertson, James (28 January 2017). "Anthony Roberts, Brad Hazzard take key roles in Gladys Berejiklian reshuffle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  9. "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  10. "NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act". Parliament of New South Wales. 1979. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  11. "AGY-424 State Planning Authority". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  12. "AGY-425 New South Wales Planning and Environment Commission". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  13. "AGY-427 Department of Environment and Planning (1980-1988) Department of Planning [I] (1988-1995)". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  14. "AGY-3809 Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (1995 - 2001) Department of Planning [II](2001-2003)". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  15. "AGY-3525 Department of Urban and Transport Planning". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  16. "AGY-3813 Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  17. "AGY-4721 Department of Planning [III] (2005-2011) Department of Planning and Infrastructure (2011-2014) Department of Planning and Environment (2014-2019)". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
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