Planning and Environment Annual Report 2017-18
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Annual Report 17-18 2 Contents Letter to the Ministers 3 About this Report 3 Secretary’s Foreword 4 1. Overview 5 About the Department 6 Major Contributions to NSW 8 2017-18 Highlights 9 The Department’s Executive and Divisions 15 Recognition for the Department and Staff 18 2. A Strong Economy 21 3. A Vibrant Sydney 37 4. Thriving Regions 49 5. Stronger Community Participation 55 6. A Sustainable Natural Environment 63 7. Supporting People and Governance 69 8. Financial Statements 75 APPENDICES Contents 168 1. Human Resources 169 2. Legal and Risk 181 3. Finance 189 4. Governance and Other 239 5. Additional Information 253 Department of Planning and Environment Annual Report 2017-18 Letter to the Ministers The Hon Anthony Roberts MP The Hon Don Harwin MLC Minister for Planning Minister for Resources Minister for Housing Minister for Energy and Utilities Special Minister of State Minister for the Arts 52 Martin Place 52 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Ministers I am pleased to submit for presentation to Parliament the Annual Report for the Department of Planning and Environment for the year ended 30 June 2018. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Annual Reports (Departments) Act 1985 and the Annual Reports (Departments) Regulation 2015. Yours sincerely Carolyn McNally Secretary About this report This annual report summarises the activities and performance of the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for 2017-18. It has been prepared according to legislative and regulatory requirements. The structure of the report reflects achievements against the five aspirations that drive the Department’s vision: • A strong economy • A vibrant Sydney • Thriving regions • Strong community participation • A sustainable natural environment. It also includes supporting people and governance, financials and other statutory reporting requirements. 3 4 Secretary’s foreword In 2017-18, the Department of Planning and Environment successfully delivered a wide range of programs, projects and reforms to create great places to live and work in NSW. A major focus in 2017-18 was elevating strategic planning in the NSW planning system. For the first time, NSW now has a comprehensive regional planning framework, with every region having a long-term strategic plan for a sustainable future over the next 20 years. Landmark reforms to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 also saw the introduction of local strategic planning statements for councils. The Department evaluated state-significant projects that were worth nearly $23 billion altogether with the potential to create more than 59,000 jobs. Investment in NSW’s cultural infrastructure continued in 2017-18. This included support for the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the preliminary work for the Sydney Modern, planning for the Powerhouse Museum, and funding to grow the arts and cultural sector in Western Sydney. In addition to bringing together representatives from the arts, screen and cultural communities for the Arts 2025 Summit, there was an increase of more than 20 per cent in attendance at cultural venues and events over two years. During 2017-18, the Department also fostered the growth of geoscientific knowledge and facilitated the ecologically sustainable development of NSW’s resources. It assessed 417 applications for new or renewed exploration licences, assessment leases and mining-lease renewals. It also opened the Port Macquarie Coastal Geotrail, a four-kilometre walk that tells the story of plate tectonics along the Port Macquarie coastline over the past 460 million years. In the energy sector, the Department managed the energy rebates scheme, which saw an increase of 20 per cent through the $312 million energy affordability package, helping more than 900,000 customers with energy costs. The Department also implemented recommendations from the NSW Energy Security Taskforce to increase the NSW energy system’s readiness for peak demands during the 2017-18 summer. The importance of community consultation and respecting local character was also a major focus for the Department in 2017-18. During this period, it hosted 144 public meetings and workshops that were attended by more than 7300 people – a 73 per cent increase on the previous year. The Department’s internal and external communication improved, with excellent attendance at its speaker series and symposium including events about respecting and enhancing local character and how this can be realised. The results of all the above initiatives are aimed at supporting a more prosperous economy, improved environmental sustainability, and world-class places for residents and visitors across the state. I thank the Department’s executive, teams and all staff for delivering these outcomes for the people of NSW. Carolyn McNally Secretary Overview 1 5 6 About the Department The Department of Planning and Environment great communities, create jobs and protect the is a department of the public service under the environment. Government Sector Employment Act 2013. The Department’s strategic direction is set out in its Corporate Plan 2018-2020. Legislation The Department administers legislation on behalf Vision of the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Resources, Energy and Utilities, and the Arts. As steward of the physical and cultural treasures of NSW, the Department creates great places and A full list of legislation for which each Minister is experiences for all, plans for a changing and thriving responsible is available at https://legislation.nsw. NSW, inspires strong and resilient communities and gov.au/#/view/regulation/2001/338/full. regions, and ensures the responsible and sustainable use of NSW’s resources. What the Department does This vision is the Department’s aspiration and inspires its people to come to work each day. The Department exists to make people’s lives better by making NSW a great place to live and work. It helps provide homes and services, build Ministerial reporting lines The Hon The Hon Anthony Roberts MP Don Harwin MLC Minister for Planning Minister for Resources Minister for Housing Minister for Energy and Utilities Special Minister of State Minister for the Arts Department of Planning and Environment Department of Planning and Environment Annual Report 2017-18 The Department’s goals The Department’s community and stakeholders The Department’s goals are to: Early and ongoing participation from the community, • create a strong and vibrant NSW by planning, councils and stakeholders is vital for the Department. designing, implementing and coordinating Meaningful discussions with these groups ensure the delivery of local infrastructure to support that a range of views informs the Department’s integrated regions and communities policies and that its decisions respond to the • provide a sustainable natural environment and community’s interests and concerns. promote the safe discovery and development of The Department’s numerous communication geological resources initiatives inform stakeholders about diverse matters • provide energy and water security through the such as energy-related rebates for NSW consumers sustainable use of and access to affordable and and grants available through the arts and culture reliable supply programs and the resources and geosciences area. For example, in 2017 the Department conducted a • foster excellence in arts, screen and culture by campaign called Summer Helpful Hints to encourage developing and supporting a vibrant, accessible careful electricity consumption during summer. and thriving arts and cultural sector • value and invest in its people, systems and Last year, the Department conducted hundreds processes. of engagement sessions statewide. It used many methods including drop-in sessions, stakeholder forums, pop-up stalls, conferences, walking tours, surveys and social media to reach as widely as possible. It aimed for robust discussion of policies and programs. It continually assesses new platforms for its audiences to provide feedback using the latest technology optimised for mobiles and tablet devices. 7 OVERVIEW 8 Major contributions to NSW Housing affordability The mining industry is on track to provide around 28,000 mine-related jobs for 2017-18 and around In 2017-18, the Department worked with councils 110,000 jobs indirectly through the provision of to review local environmental plans, accelerate mine- and non-mine-related services. There are over rezoning in growth areas to fast-track new homes, 50 major mineral project proposals in NSW at various and introduce policy initiatives recognising local stages of planning and determination, offering character. It also launched a low-cost loans initiative potential investment of around $15 billion in new to give councils cheaper finance so they can invest in capital expenditure and up to 9000 new jobs. infrastructure that supports housing supply. The minerals industry is an important industry in many The Premier’s Priority target of 61,000 new regional communities and contributes significantly to completed homes each financial year has been NSW’s prosperity. exceeded in the last 12 months, with 63,289 homes completed by the end of 2017. In the year to April 2018, Greater Sydney hit a record of over 41,000 Supporting local infrastructure completed homes. The state-led rezoning target of NSW gross infrastructure spending is projected 10,000 more homes per year was also met, allowing to grow at 4.1 per cent a year to an estimated $49 capacity for 19,300 more homes in urban renewal billion