AGY-6290 | Parramatta Park Trust

Full description

Background
Parramatta Park was a site of cultural significance and a vital community asset to the people of Western Sydney, with the original inhabitants being the Burramatta clan of the Dharug people. The Park was one of the largest parks in Western Sydney, with its environment made up of recreational spaces and facilities, remnant and regenerated Cumberland Plain vegetation, waterways and grasslands, and a habitat for native wildlife and birdlife. (1) The Park was previously managed by the Parramatta Regional Park Trust under the National Parks and Wildlife legislation. (2)

Parramatta Park Trust
The Parramatta Park Trust was established as a statutory body under the Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001 (Act No.17, 2001). The Act, which was assented to on 30 April 2001, and proclaimed to commence on 1 July 2001, also abolished the Parramatta Regional Park Trust. (3)

The Trust consisted of seven Trustees (including a Chairperson) appointed by the Minister, and was in the exercise of its functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister.(4)

The principal functions of the Trust were to:
(a) Permit the use of the whole or any part of the Trust lands for activities of a recreational, historical, scientific, educational and cultural heritage nature;
(b) In connection with the Trust lands provide, or permit the provisions of, food or other refreshments and apply for, hold or dispose of dispose of any relevant licence, permit or other authority for that purpose;
(c) Promote and provide exhibits, lectures, films, publications, and other types of educational instruction relating to the Trust land;
(d) In pursuance of its objects, procure specimens, services or material and obtain scientific or other data from within or outside the State;
(e) Disseminate scientific, cultural and historical information to the public and educational, scientific, cultural and historical institutions, whether within or outside the State;
(f) Maintain, or make arrangements for the maintenance of, the property of the Trust;
(g) Subject to the regulations, charge and receive fees or other amounts for, or in connection with, any services provided, article sold or permission given by the Trust in the exercise of any of its functions;
(h) Enter into any contract or arrangements within any person for the purposes of promoting the objects of the Trust. (5)

In April 2003, the Parramatta Parks Trust, and the staff responsible for the administration of Regional Parks under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (Act No.80, 1974) were transferred from the National Park and Wildlife Service to the Department of Sport and Recreation. (6)

The Director of the Trust was responsible for the administration and management of the Trusts Lands and services and was subject to the control and direction of the Trust. By mid-2004, the Director was also reporting to the Director - General of the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation for administrative issues.(7) By mid-2007, the Director was reporting to the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation. (8)

From 1 July 2009 when the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation was abolished the Parramatta Park Trust became a branch of the new Principal Department, Communities NSW. (9)

From 4 April 2011 when Communities NSW was abolished the Parramatta Park Trust became a branch of the Principal Department, the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (10)

The Director of the Trust, Mr Christopher Levins reported to the Chief Executive, of the Office of Environment and Heritage, which was initially a branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (11) In February 2014, the Office of the Environment and Heritage was established as a separate agency to the Department of Premier and Cabinet. (12)

By 2014, Old Government House and Domain (Parramatta Park) was one of the 11 historic places that together formed the Australian Convicts Sites World Heritage Property. The Park had also hosted a number of events, such as music festivals, Australia Day celebrations, Sydney Symphony in the Park, and the Mother's Day Classic. (13)

From July 2020, Parramatta Park became part of Greater Sydney Parklands within the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. (14)

From 1 April 2022 the persons employed in the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment that enabled the functions of the Greater Sydney Parklands and Parramatta Park Trust were transferred to Department of Transport (Transport for NSW). (15)

On 1 July 2023 the Trust was transferred from the Department of Transport (Transport for NSW) to the Department of Planning and Environment. (16)

When the Department of Planning and Environment was renamed the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure from 1 January 2024 the Trust remained with that department. (17)

Endnotes
1. Parramatta Park Trust website, http://www.ppt.nsw.gov.au/home_page.htm (accessed 24 July 2008).
2. NSW Government Gazette No.99, 12 September 1997, pp. 8042-8043; NSW Government Gazette No.7, 16 January 1998, pp. 330-331; National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (Act No.80,1974), Division 5, Regional Parks; National Parks and Wildlife (Parramatta Regional Park) Act 1998 (Act No.92, 1998) (The Whole Act).
3. Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001, ss.2, Schedule 4; NSW Government Gazette No.100, 22 June 2001, p.4246.
4. Ibid., ss.4 (1) (c), 5, Schedule 2.
5. Ibid., s.7.
6. Public Sector Employment and Management Order (General) Order 2003 cls. 30 in NSW Government Gazette No. 67, 2 April 2003, p.4330; Public Sector Employment and Management (General) Further Amendment Order 2003 in NSW Government Gazette No.128, 22 August 2002, pp.8045-8046.
7. Ibid. s. 22; Parramatta Park Trust Annual Report, 2003-2004, pp.5-6.
8. Parramatta Park Trust Annual Report 2006-2007, pp.6, 12.
9. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 6; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.
10. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departments) Order 2011 (2011 No 184), cls. 11; notified on NSW Legislation website, 3 April 2011.
11. Parramatta Park Trust Annual Report 2010-2011, pp.17-19; Parramatta Park Trust Annual Report 2011-2012, pp.3, 18-19; ‘OEH Cluster partners’ NSW Heritage and Environment Website, http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/whoweare/cluster.htm (accessed 24 March 2014).
12. Administrative Arrangements Order 2014 (2014 No.11) cls. 4 and 9; notified on NSW Legislation website, 29 January 2014; ABC News ‘NSW Environment office shift out of Premier’s department ‘not a downgrade’ posted 5 February 2014, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Website, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-05/nsw-environment-office-shift-27not-a-downgrade27/5239306 (accessed 5 February 2014).
13. Parramatta Park Trust website, Parramatta Park, http://www.ppt.nsw.gov.au/ (accessed 13/ March 2014).
14. Parramatta Park, Annual Report 2020-2021, pg. 5.
15. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes Miscellaneous) Order (No 2) 2022 (2022 No 84), cl.7, NSW Legislation website, 16 March 2022.
16. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order (No 5) 2023 (2023 No 345), cl.15; NSW Legislation website, 30 June 2023.
17. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order (No 6) 2023 (2023 No 648), Sch.1 cl.20(1); NSW Legislation website, 6 December 2023, amending Administrative Arrangements (58th Parliament) Order 2023 (2023 No 137); NSW Legislation website, 5 April 2023.