Office of Environment & Heritage
The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is a separate office within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Government has announced an independent Environment Protection Authority (with corporate services provided by OEH) is also being established.
OEH is an environmental regulator and a manager of parks and gardens in NSW. The OEH develops and leads policy and reform in environment protection, sustainability, biodiversity and native vegetation, coastal protection and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
OEH manages 6.8 million hectares of national parks and reserves, which is almost 9 per cent of NSW.
In regulatory matters for environment protection staff act under the powers of the statutory Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and its Board.
The Heritage Branch within OEH works with communities to identify important places and objects and provides guidance in looking after heritage items. OEH supports the Premier, the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Heritage in performing their executive and statutory functions.
OEH is made up of 7 main areas:
- Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Group
- Environment Protection and Regulation Group (including EPA)
- Parks and Wildlife Group
- Corporate Services Division
- Country, Culture and Heritage Division
- Scientific Services Division
- Policy, Economics and Governance Division
The organisation also provides staff, services and other support to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, the NSW Environmental Trust, the Lord Howe Island Board, Western Sydney Parkland Trust, Parramatta Park Trust, Centennial Park, Moore Park Trust and the Historic Houses Trust.