AGY-5174 | Office of Special Development (1983-1986) / Office of State Development (1986-1988)

Full description

The Office of Special Development was established in 1983 within the Premier’s Department as a major initiative of the Government to boost employment generation in the state. (1) The main objectives of the Office were to:

i) promote private sector development and employment;
ii) co-ordinate and monitor public sector capital works programmes;
iii) provide a central office in Government to co-ordinate significant private and public sector regional programmes. (2)

The Office of Special Development consisted of the Industrial Investment Unit, Co-ordination Unit, and Capital Works Unit. The Industrial Investment Unit was established in 1977 within the Premier’s Department to assist and advise the Premier on development matters, to promote the expansion of existing industries and the establishment of new ventures, and to assist in overcoming obstacles which would otherwise impede the expansion or establishment of major development projects in the state. (3) The Co-ordination Unit was involved in the co-ordination of infrastructure requirements for Government programs in the following areas identified for specific attention: the Hunter Region, Illawarra, Lithgow, Mudgee/Gunnedah, Broken Hill and Western Sydney. The Capital Works Unit was to assess and co-ordinate capital works programs. (4)

In 1983, the Office of Special Development was involved in the following:

i) promoting the development of the New South Wales computer software industry;
ii) promotion of commercial and residential developments;
iii) co-ordinating the state’s participation in the implementation and management of the Federal Government’s Steel Regions Assistance Programme;
iv) co-ordination of infrastructure and community requirements for major resource development areas through the work of the co-ordinators for the Hunter, Illawarra/Lithgow, Mudgee/Gunnedah and Broken Hill areas;
v) co-ordinating the development of the major growth centres of Western/Southwestern Sydney with particular emphasis on the facilitation of major public and private sector initiatives;
vi) co-ordinating the future redevelopment of the Darling Harbour area in co-operation with the private sector and relevant public agencies to maximase the potential of the location. (5)

In 1986 the Office of Special Development was restructured and named the Office of State Development.

In 1988, the Office of State Development contributed to the development of the Multi Function Polis concept, the Very Fast Train Project, WR Grace Cracking Catalyst Plant at Kurnell and the Clay Tile Plant at Wyee. The Office also provided ongoing policy and secretarial support to the State Development Council. The Council was established as a peak advisory committee chaired by the then Premier. The Council undertook the task of providing specific industry sector plans to provide a blue print for development in New South Wales for the future. (6)

On 13 April 1988 the Office of State Development was removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the recently established Department of State Development. (7)

Endnotes
1. Premier’s Department, Annual Report, 1983, p.12.
2. loc. cit.
3. NSW Premier’s Department, Annual Report, 1980, p.31.
4. Concise Guide to the State Archives of NSW (P-R): Premier’s Department, P. Office of State Development.
5. Premier’s Department, Annual Report, 1983, p.18.
6. Premier’s Department, Annual Report, 1987-88, p.45.
7. NSW Government Gazette No.73, 15 April 1988, p.2270; Department of State Development was established on 25 March 1988, NSW Government Gazette No.65, 25 March 1988, p.2041.