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. The Department was also responsible for the evidence-based assessment of state significant development applications. In 2015-16 the Department approved major projects worth 20 billion.
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.

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. Ultimately the ministers were responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.
The Department administered the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act .

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. In keeping with this, the Department’s priorities were:
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:
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: