AGY-46 | Department of Public Works and Services

Full description

On 5 April, 1995, the Department of Public Works and Services was established. The Department comprised:
a) the branches of the former Public Works Department with the exception of the Olympic Construction Authority; the Water Services Policy Division and the Office of Ports and Marine Safety (1)
b) the branches of the former Commercial Services Group (2)
c) the branches of the former Property Services Group with the exception of the City West Development Corporation; Honeysuckle Development Corporation; the Homebush Bay Development Corporation; Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority; and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.(3)
d) the Information Technology Policy and Planning Unit (previously attached to the Premier's Department) (4)
The Department comprises the following seven divisions:
1) Client Services Division - advise and assist clients in enhancing the relevance of their infrastructure and business services which in turn support the delivery of their services to the community. (5)
2) Executive Management which is responsible for two specialised groups - Internal Audit and Strategy Unit. (6)
3) Finance and Management Services Division - provides strategic corporate management and a range of support services which facilitate the effective performance of the Department. (7)
4) Operations Division - undertakes the procurement of government infrastructure on a whole-of-government approach. The division's strategies focus on the delivery of non-built solutions, private sector solutions opportunities and government capital built investment solutions. The division has a multi-disciplinary workforce of highly professional and multi-skilled staff including engineers, architects, builders and skilled trades personnel. (8)
5) Information Technology and Telecommunications Division - their key role is establishing a public sector approach to the application of information technology and telecommunications which supports efficient delivery and effectiveness of services to the community. (9)
6) Policy Division - responsible for the development of appropriate strategies, policies and practices to meet the Government's objectives in the areas of construction industry reform, total asset management of public sector infrastructure and project procurement purchasing policy and risk management. (10)
7) Commercial Business Division - a group of service oriented businesses providing quality services and products to the public sector and associated organisations. The division includes the State Mail Service, Government Printing Service, Government Information and Advertising, and NSW Supply; State Projects, the Glebe Material Testing and Chemical Services Laboratory; State Property, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory and International Business. (11)

On 2 April 2003, the Department of Public Works and Services was amalgamated into the Department of Commerce, apart from the business units concerned with asset and procurement policy which were transferred to Treasury. (12)


ENDNOTES
(1) Abolition of Departments and Administrative Offices and transfer of branches - (w) in NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, 5 April 1995 p. 1860
(2) Abolition of Departments and Administrative Offices and transfer of branches - (s) in NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, 5 April 1995 p. 1860
(3) Abolition of Departments and Administrative Offices and transfer of branches - (aa) in NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, 5 April 1995 p. 1861
(4) Other changes involving branches of Departments and Administrative Offices - (ag) in NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, 5 April 1995 p. 1861
(5) NSW Government Directory, 1996 p. 338-339
(6) Ibid p. 340
(7) Ibid. p. 340
(8) Ibid p. 341- 342
(9) Ibid. p. 343
(10) Ibid p. 344
(11) Ibid. p. 344
(12) NSW Government Gazette, 2 April 2003, p.4331.

REFERENCES
(1) Department of Public Works and Services Annual Report, 1995, 1996.