Who we are

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) support the Premier, the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Heritage in performing their executive and statutory functions.

OEH develops and leads policy, reform and education in sustainability, biodiversity and native vegetation, coastal protection and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

OEH also manages 7 million hectares of national parks and reserves, which is almost 9 per cent of NSW.

The Heritage Branch within OEH works with communities to identify important places and objects and provides guidance in looking after heritage items.

As well as supporting six internal functional areas, OEH also provides services and other support, including staff in some cases, to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, NSW Environmental Trust, Lord Howe Island Board, Western Sydney Parkland Trust, Parramatta Park Trust, Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, Historic Houses Trust, Taronga Conservation Society Australia and the EPA.

The EPA, overseen by the EPA Board, is responsible for environmental regulation, particularly the regulation of air emissions, contaminated sites, dangerous goods and hazardous materials, noise, pesticides, forestry activities, waste and water quality. The EPA also delivers regular State of the Environment reports.

Annual reports provide a useful overview of previous work and achievements.

Please contact the Environment Line if you have specific enquiries about our work.