Who we are
The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is a separate office within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. The NSW Government recently announced that an independent Environment Protection Authority (with corporate services provided by OEH) is also being established.
OEH supports the Premier, the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Heritage in performing their executive and statutory functions.
OEH is an environmental regulator and a manager of parks and gardens in NSW, and develops and leads policy and reform in environmental regulation, sustainability, biodiversity and native vegetation, coastal protection and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
OEH manages 6.8 million hectares of national parks and reserves, which is almost 9 per cent of NSW.
In regulatory matters for environment protection, staff act under the powers of the statutory Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and its Board.
As well as supporting seven internal functional areas, the organisation also provides staff, services and other support 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, and Historic Houses Trust.
The Heritage Branch within OEH works with communities to identify important places and objects and provides guidance in looking after heritage items.
Annual reports provide a useful overview of previous work and achievements.
Please contact the Environment Line if you have specific enquiries about our work.
Page last updated: 17 October 2011
