AGY-4048 | National Parks Service

Full description

Background
The National Parks and Wildlife Service [I] was initially established by the National Parks and Wildlife Act (Act No.35, 1967) (1), and reconstituted by the National Parks and Wildlife Act (Act No.80, 1974). (2)

The National Parks Service
After the election of the Carr Labour Government in March 2003 the National Park and Wildlife Service was renamed the National Parks Service and the following responsibilities were removed: The Parramatta Parks Trust, and the staff responsible for the administration of regional parks under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 were transferred to the Department of Sport and Recreation; Staff who were principally involved in the administration of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, and Staff from the Threatened Species Support Unit; and staff who were principally involved in the administration of the provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 which were administered by the Minister for Natural Resources were to be transferred to the Department of Sustainable Natural Resources. As the whole wildlife function appeared to have been removed from the Service, it appeared to have been abolished and reconstituted as the National Parks Service. (3)

The functions of the Service were:
To ensure the conservation of protected plants throughout New South Wales;
To protect and manage Aboriginal Sites, objects and places of special significance to Aboriginal people;
To promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the conservation of nature and our cultural heritage;
To investigate and acquire land for inclusion in a system of national parks and nature reserves to conserve a complete range of the natural environment of the state;
To manage historic places within the reserve system and to acquire historic places of significance;
To manage these areas and culturally significant feature for enjoyment and conservation;
To identify, protect and manage wilderness throughout New South Wales (4)

From 14 April 2003 section 151D of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 became operational. The section required the Service to keep a register of alterations to lands controlled under the Act including leases, easements and rights of way and to include that information on the Service's website. (5)

On 23 April 2003 the National Parks Service was effectively abolished and reconstituted as the National Parks and Wildlife Service [II]. This occurred when the sections of the Public Sector Employment and Management (General) Order relating to the National Parks and Wildlife Service were largely revoked, except for the transfer of staff for the Parramatta Parks Trust, and staff administering Regional Parks under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 to the Department of Sport and Recreation. (6)

Endnotes
1. National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967 s.5.
2. National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 s. 6.
3. NSW Government Gazette, 2 April 2003, pp. 4330-4333.
4. National Parks and Wildlife Service Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2003, p.8.
5. NSW Government Gazette, 11 April 2003, p.4429.
6. NSW Government Gazette, 23 April 2003, pp.4549-4551.