Annual Report 2015–16 Office of Environment and Heritage www.environment.nsw.gov.au © 2016 Office of Environment and Heritage With the exception of photographs, the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. OEH has compiled this report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to their specific needs. 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Published by: Office of Environment and Heritage 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232 Phone: +61 2 9995 5000 (switchboard) Phone: 131 555 (environment information and publications requests) Phone: 1300 361 967 (national parks, general environmental enquiries, and publications requests) Fax: +61 2 9995 5999 TTY users: phone 133 677, then ask for 131 555 Speak and listen users: phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 131 555 Email: [email protected] Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au Report pollution and environmental incidents Environment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or [email protected] See also www.environment.nsw.gov.au ISSN 2204-0978 OEH 2016/0504 November 2016 Find out more about your environment at: www.environment.nsw.gov.au Contents Letter of submission ............................................................................... 1 Message from the Chief Executive ........................................................ 2 About OEH ............................................................................................. 4 Our achievements in 2015–16 ............................................................... 7 Targets for 2016–17 ............................................................................ 25 OEH financial statements .................................................................... 27 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2016 ... 36 Appendices .......................................................................................... 96 1. Governance ..................................................................................... 96 2. Legislation and legal change ......................................................... 101 3. Human resources .......................................................................... 117 4. Funding and expenditure ............................................................... 126 Heritage Council of NSW Annual Report 2015–16 ........................... 141 Corporation Sole ‘Minister Administering the Heritage Act 1977’ financial statements ........................................................................... 146 Corporation Sole ‘Minister Administering the Heritage Act 1977’: Notes to and forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2016 ....................................................... 153 Contact us .......................................................................................... 171 iii iv Annual Report 2015–16: Office of Environment and Heritage Letter of submission The Hon. Mark Speakman, SC MP Minister for the Environment Minister for Heritage 52 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister I am pleased to submit to you the Annual Report of the Office of Environment and Heritage for your presentation to the New South Wales Parliament. This report provides a summary of our services and achievements and covers our performance for the period 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. In addition, the report contains the audited financial statements and appendices as required by legislation. The report also incorporates the Annual Report of the Heritage Council of NSW for the year ending 30 June 2016. The report was prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Departments) Act 1985, the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, regulations under those Acts and NSW Treasury Circular TC10/09. Yours sincerely TERRY BAILEY Chief Executive 1 Annual Report 2015–16: Office of Environment and Heritage Message from the Chief Executive For the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), 2015–16 was a year of building the foundations for major NSW Government reforms that will be delivered over the coming years. The most notable of these include developing a new policy and legislative framework for land management and biodiversity conservation in NSW; preparing a strategic plan for the Climate Change Fund; and progressing the development of proposals to revise the Government’s Aboriginal cultural heritage reform model. OEH worked in close collaboration with other agencies and organisations across the sector to deliver a number of Government priorities during 2015–16. Examples of our work include: leading the development of a $240 million Government investment over five years in private land conservation managing the repatriation of 156 Aboriginal ancestral remains and collections of cultural materials to Aboriginal communities in partnership with key stakeholders such as the Australian Museum, National Museum of Australia, University of Sydney, Aboriginal Victoria and the NSW Coroner’s Office entering into an agreement to manage the Murrah Flora Reserves on behalf of the Forestry Corporation of NSW – the reserves total 11,800 hectares and will improve habitat connectivity and management of natural and cultural values, including the only known viable koala population on the NSW Far South Coast endorsing 58 Conservation Management Plans under the Heritage Act 1977 to ensure the conservation of heritage values of Land and Housing Corporation property being sold in the Millers Point area of Sydney as a member of the Marine Estate Management Authority, actively supporting consultation on eight management initiatives to enhance marine biodiversity conservation in the Hawkesbury Shelf marine bioregion, including leading the ‘improving water quality and reducing marine litter’ initiative working with organisations such as Destination NSW and Local Aboriginal Land Councils to improve and create new tourism and visitor experiences, including producing nine promotional films to showcase Aboriginal-owned and operated tours licensed to operate in NSW; and investing $1.8 million in upgrades to the Royal Coast Track developing a package of coastal reforms, including $83.6 million for coastal management over five years from 2016–17, with the Department of Planning and Environment launching the WilderQuest Learning portal which in the six months to the end of June 2016 had over 750 teachers and 590 schools register to use the education resources. I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly recognise the outstanding efforts of so many OEH staff who continue to deliver what we refer to as ‘business as usual’ to care for and protect NSW’s natural environment, Aboriginal country, culture and heritage, and built heritage. This includes providing advice to the community, industry and other agencies across a range of activities such as planning, resource efficiency, heritage, coast and flood protection, compliance and enforcement; maintaining our parks and reserves; engaging with local communities; creating and delivering education programs; 2 Annual Report 2015–16: Office of Environment and Heritage undertaking research, monitoring and reporting activities; and publishing and making our information easier to access. All of these activities are supported by staff providing human resource, information technology, administrative, asset and finance services. To all our staff undertaking these tasks, thank you. On behalf of the staff of OEH, I am proud to present this Annual Report for the 2015–16 year which sets out our wide-ranging responsibilities. TERRY BAILEY Chief Executive 3 Annual Report 2015–16: Office of Environment and Heritage About OEH Purpose OEH is a separate agency within the Planning and Environment cluster. OEH works to enrich life in NSW by helping the community to conserve and enjoy our environment and heritage. Vision Our environment and heritage are valued, protected, enjoyed and support a prosperous and healthy NSW. Role The role of OEH is to: conserve and care for national parks and reserves, biodiversity and threatened species encourage communities to experience and enjoy national parks and value their local environment promote, protect and share Aboriginal culture and heritage in partnership with Aboriginal people and local communities conserve, revitalise, care for and enjoy our historic heritage