AGY-4174 | Natural Resources Commission

Full description

The Natural Resources Commission was established by the Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 (Act No.102, 2003), which was proclaimed to commence on 23 January 2004. (1)

The general function of the Commission was to provide the Government with independent advice on natural resource management and the more specific functions were as follows: (a) to recommend State-wide standards and targets for natural resource management issues, (b) to advise on strategic or investment priorities in natural resource management in this State as required by the Minister, (c) to undertake audits of compliance with State-wide standards and targets for natural resource management issues, (d) to undertake audits and reviews of other natural resource management issues as required by the Minister, (d1) without limiting paragraph (d), to undertake audits and reviews relating to forestry or water management issues as required by the Minister, (d2) to advise on program design for natural resource management as required by the Minister, (e) to co-ordinate or undertake significant natural resource and conservation assessments as required by the Minister, (f) to undertake inquiries on natural resource management issues as required by the Minister, (g) to assist in the reconciliation of particular complex natural resource management issues that are referred to the Commission by the Minister, (h) to advise the Minister on priorities for research concerning natural resource management issues, (i) to arrange for information to be gathered and disseminated on natural resource management issues. (2)

Under the provisions of the Act the following agencies were abolished, with their functions, assets, and liabilities transferred to the Natural Resources Commission (3), which established offices in late May 2004. (4)

Resource and Conservation Assessment Council;
Healthy Rivers Commission;
Coastal Council;
State Catchment Management Co-ordinating Committee;
Native Vegetation Advisory Council;
Water Advisory Council;
State Wetland Advisory Committee;
State Weir Review Committee;
Advisory Council on Fisheries Conservation; and
Fisheries Resource Conservation and Assessment Council.

The organisational structure of the Commission consisted of a Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners, Executive Director, Executive Assistant, General Manager, Program Manager (Policy), Program Manager (Audit), Team Support Officer, and Natural Resource Analysts. (5)

In 2005 the Natural Resources Commission was responsible for the administration of the Whole of the Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 and relevant sections of the:
Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003;
Native Vegetation Act 2003;
Water Management Act 2000;
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995;
Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998; and
Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Trial Act 2004. (6)

Initially the Natural Resources Commission Act was administered by the Premier, except Part 3 which was administered jointly with the Minister for Natural Resources until 2 April 2007 when it came solely under the purview of the Premier (7) (8). On 2 April 2019, the administration of the Act was transferred to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. (9)

From 5 April 2023 the Natural Resources Commission was transferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (10)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette (No.16), 23 January 2004, p.259.
2. Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 (Act No.102, 2003).
3. Natural Resources Commission Act 2003, (Act No.102, 2003) Schedule 3, Part 2.
4. National Resources Commission web site www.nrc.nsw.gov.au (accessed 17/5/2005).
5. Natural Resources Commission Annual Report 2003/2004, p.7.
6. Natural Resources Commission Annual Report 2005/2006, pp.55-56; Natural Resources Commission website, https://www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/about-nrc (accessed 23/11/2022).
7. NSW Government Gazette No.35, 13 February 2004, p.588 and p.594.
8. NSW Government Gazette No.47, 2 April 2007 p.2074.
9. Administrative Arrangements (Administration of Acts-General) Order 2019 (2019 No.157), p.8; NSW Legislation website.
10. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order (No 2) 2023 (2023 No 138), Sch.1; NSW Leglislation website, 05 April 2023.