Full description
Greater Sydney Parklands was formed by administrative decision by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in July 2020. The Greater Sydney Parklands combined Centennial Parklands (including Moore Park and Queens Park), Western Sydney Parklands, Parramatta Park, Callan Park and Fernhill Estate into one parks administration with a combined Board, executive and staff. (1)
On 1 July 2022 the Greater Sydney Parklands was legislated under the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022 as a NSW Government agency and corporation. (2) The individual trust of each park remained in place, along with related legislation, heritage listings and plans of management and were overseen by Community trustee boards as established by the Act. (3)
Previous to the commencement, Greater Sydney Parklands Legislation Amendment (Substratum) Act 2021 was assented to and commenced on 8 December 2021. This Act amended the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 and the Parramatta Park Trust Act 2001 to provide for the acquisition of the substratum of certain trust lands under the Acts for a public purpose within the meaning of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. (4)
The object of the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust was:
(a) to maintain and improve the parklands estate across Greater Sydney and ensure the parklands estate is effectively managed and operated to deliver world-class and ecologically sustainable parklands for the public,
(b) to enable the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust to facilitate a connection to Country for First Nations peoples that (i) recognises and conserves First Nations peoples' cultural heritage and values through the use of the parklands estate, and (ii) establishes long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships that give effect to the ongoing relationships of First Nations peoples with Country,
(c) to ensure the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage values of the parklands estate and the protection of the environment within the parklands estate,
(d) to advocate for a long-term vision to achieve the outcome of quality parklands across Greater Sydney, particularly connectivity of green corridors and public access to open space,
(e) to encourage the use and enjoyment of the parklands estate by the community by promoting and increasing the recreational, historical, scientific, educational, cultural and environmental values of lands within the parklands estate,
(f) to ensure the parklands estate may be used by the community in a way that is adaptive and recognises and responds to the diverse needs of the community,
(g) to provide increased opportunity for community engagement to shape regionally significant parklands in response to diverse community needs. (5)
Board of the Trust consisted of the following members: the chief executive and 7 members appointed by the Minister that had experience or skills in community consultation, environmental and conservation management, financial and property management, governance and risk, heritage or heritage management, and, landscape or park management. (6)
From 1 April 2022 the persons employed in the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to enable the following to exercise functions of (i) the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, (ii) the Luna Park Reserve Trust, (iii) the Parramatta Park Trust, (iv) Place Management NSW, (v) the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, (vi) the Western Sydney Parklands Trust, and (b) the persons employed in the Cities group in the Department were transferred to the Department of Transport. This meant that Greater Sydney Parklands was transferred to Transport for NSW. (7)
From 1 July 2023 the Trust was transferred from the Department of Transport to the Department of Planning and Environment. (8)
When the Department of Planning and Environment was renamed the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure from 1 January 2024 the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust remained with that department. (9) Greater Sydney Parklands in 2024 looked after: part of Callan Park; Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queens Park; Parramatta Park; Western Sydney Parklands; and Fernhill Estate (Mulgoa). (10)
Endnotes
1. Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, Annual Report 2020-2021, p.12
2. Commencement Proclamation under the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022 (2022 No 276); NSW Legislation Website, 10 June 2022.
3. Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022 (Act No.9, 2022), s.4.
4. Greater Sydney Parklands Legislation Amendment (Substratum) Act 2021 (Act No.44, 2021).
5. Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022 (Act No.9, 2022), s.1.
6. Ibid. s.2.
7. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes Miscellaneous) Order (No 2) 2022 (2022 No 84), cl.7; NSW Legislation website, 16 March 2022; Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, Greater Sydney Parklands, https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/premiers-priorities/great-public-spaces/open-space/greater-sydney-parklands (accessed 9 November 2022).
8. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Miscellaneous) Order (No 5) 2023 (2023 No 345), cl.15; NSW Legislation website, 30 June 2023.
9. 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.
10. Western Sydney Parklands website, Leadership and Governance webpage https://www.greatersydneyparklands.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-organisation/leadership-and-governance (accessed 19 March 2024).
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