NSW Trade & Investment Annual Report 2010-11
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 31 October 2011 The Hon. Mr Andrew Stoner, MP Deputy Premier Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services Parliament House Macquarie Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Minister In accordance with the Annual Reports (Departments) Act 1985, the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, and the Regulations under these Acts, I am pleased to submit to you as the Department’s co-ordinating Minister, the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the New South Wales Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services for presentation to Parliament. The document reports on the Department’s achievements for the past year against the corporate outcomes. These achievements were made possible by the willingness and commitment of staff and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and hard work, as well as the leadership and direction provided by the Divisional heads throughout the year. The report also includes a summary of the major achievements of the Department’s statutory agencies. These agencies will also be submitting their own Annual Reports as required under the Act. Yours sincerely Mark I Paterson AO Director General CONTENTS Director General’s Year in Review 2 Corporate governance 5 About us 5 Organisational structure 6 Our results 7 Financial overview 9 Review of NSW Trade & Investment operations 11 Department of Primary industries 12 NSW Office of Water 28 Crown Lands Division 42 Soil Conservation Service 49 Industry, Innovation and Investment Division 53 Arts NSW 68 Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing 80 Resources and Energy Division (incl. Office of Biofuels) 87 Policy, Governance and Communications Division 103 Corporate Services Division 110 Statutory Agencies 114 Screen NSW 115 Forests NSW 116 NSW Food Authority 117 NSW Rural Assistance Authority 117 Game Council NSW 118 Art Gallery of NSW 119 Australian Museum 119 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences 120 State Library of NSW 120 Sydney Opera House 120 Responsible Gambling Fund 121 Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority 121 Catchment Management Authorities 122 Appendices 127 Financial statements 240 Index 364 Access and business hours inside back cover NSW TRADE & INVESTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2010 -11 CONTENTS 1 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S YEAR IN REVIEW The year to 30 June 2011 marks the first reporting period and co-sponsored the 2010 Forbes Global CEO Conference for the new Department of Trade and Investment, Regional in Sydney which attracted 380 leading business delegates, Infrastructure and Services (NSW Trade & Investment). The including 298 international chairmen, presidents, CEOs, department unites the key NSW Government economic philanthropists and thought-leaders. The conference was an development agencies, offices and authorities that were outstanding opportunity to showcase Sydney and NSW to previously part of a range of clusters. world business leaders. In relation to the previous reporting period, the new The department helped improve the State’s global department combines elements of the former: competitiveness by encouraging exports through the Global Growth Program, the International Tourism Incentive Fund, ● Industry & Investment NSW the NSW Export Lab and the Premier’s NSW Export Awards. ● Communities NSW (Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing; Our involvement in the 2010 Shanghai Expo, G’Day USA Arts NSW) and other trade events, efforts of our international offices in ● Department of Planning (Crown Lands; Soil Conservation China (Shanghai and Guangzhou), India (Mumbai) and the Services) United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) and targeted international ● Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water trade missions helped support NSW exports and attract (Office of Water; Marine Parks Authority; Catchment international investment. Management) The department also funded over 30 scientific research and infrastructure projects through the Science Leveraging Fund The creation of the new department is an opportunity to to the value of more than $9.5 million. build on common skills and knowledge while maintaining an industry-specific, customer focus within each division. We also provided assistance to regional and rural areas This annual report discusses these opportunities, and the with numerous initiatives including, the Regional Business challenges that come with them, under the five topic Development Scheme, managing the Building the Country groupings: Program and the Regional Development Advisory Council. ● Trade, business and investment Primary industries, land and water ● Primary industries, land and water NSW Trade & Investment supports the development of profitable primary industries, creating a more prosperous ● Mineral resources and energy New South Wales and contributing to a better environment ● Tourism, major events, hospitality, racing and arts through the sustainable use of our State’s natural resources. ● Positive business environment The department successfully oversaw the restructuring of the Trade, business and investment State’s forestry industry. The restructure involved coordinating In a difficult environment of fluctuating business and the NSW Government’s $51.5 million red gum structural consumer confidence and a strong Australian dollar, the adjustment package to manage the voluntary exit of department supported NSW industry by bringing investment sufficient red gum businesses to achieve a balance between and jobs to the State. NSW Trade & Investment attracted over the remaining industry and the available timber supplies. 15 000 jobs and $2.6 billion in investment to NSW across a Water management is a major priority for primary industries, diversity of industry sectors. This included securing major regional communities and the department. The department information, communications and technology projects for led the management of the Border Rivers-Gwydir ‘Sustaining the State worth over $200 million and attracting several the Basin Farm Modernisation’ project; the first activity substantial manufacturing projects with companies such funded under the Australian Government’s seven-year as Midal Cables and Amcor Packaging to support over 1700 $300 million Water for the Future initiative. The total value jobs. of on-farm works was $5.8 million, which achieved a Work also began on the implementation of Government total of 2.264 gigalitres (GL) of water savings, with 1.274 policy to establish the NSW Export and Investment Advisory GL of entitlement transferred to the Commonwealth Board, the Multicultural Business Advisory Panel and the Environmental Water Holder. Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The department’s Office of Water developed, implemented With the Australian Government, the department hosted and assessed water sharing plans, expanded the water 2 DIRECTOR GENERAL’S YEAR IN REVIEW NSW TRADE & INVESTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2010 -11 monitoring network and managed water sharing to ensure This year, the department published the Status of Fisheries delivery of critical water supplies, while minimising impacts Resources in NSW report, an important component of the to the irrigation industry. reporting requirements for the State’s commercial fishery The Office also managed the $1.2 billion Country Towns management strategies, which ensure fisheries resources are Water Supply and Sewerage Program with 464 water and managed in a sustainable way. sewerage projects delivered since 1996 directly benefiting In a year of challenging weather conditions, the department’s more than one million residents in country NSW. Soil Conservation Service achieved a record $23.2 million of With the breaking of the nine-year drought, the department business by delivering environmental projects for numerous continued to support regions through a new Rural Support clients across the State and treating a total of 7207 hectares Worker Program that will build long term community of land. Strong demand from rural landholders, particularly resources in the areas of change management of climate those eligible for Rural Assistance Disaster Funding, variability, household and business finance and personal continued throughout the year. wellbeing. During the entire drought period the NSW The department continued to manage over $6 billion of Government’s commitment to supporting rural industries Crown land assets and worked with government entities exceeded $535 million. and local communities to develop community assets. With NSW Trade & Investment, Catchment Management the Clarence Valley Council, we developed a number of Authorities, other state agencies and local communities new natural camping sites to enhance low-cost holiday worked closely together to commence a process to update opportunities. We also provided staffing and support services Catchment Action Plans within two years. This will deliver to the Lake Illawarra Authority to restore the ecological and programs that remediate or improve natural resources such tourism values of a lake heavily degraded by the pressures of as native vegetation and soils, and deal with environmental urban development. Further recreational opportunities were hazards such as salinity. provided through the creation of an artificial reef and dive site on the Central Coast of NSW using the ex-HMAS Adelaide The State’s biosecurity management capacity was enhanced gifted to the State by the Australian Government. through a $56.7 million upgrade of the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural