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OEH organisation and services

View the OEH organisational structure and OEH Executive.

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) consists of eight functional areas:

• Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Group
• Parks and Wildlife Group
• Country, Culture and Heritage Division
• Scientific Services Division
• Conservation and Regulation
• Policy, Economics and Governance Division
• Corporate Services Division
• Legal Services Division

Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Group

The Environment and Heritage Policy and Programs Group develops and coordinates strategic policies and programs. It delivers water, energy and waste sustainability programs and is responsible for environmental water recovery programs. Other key policy and program areas include climate change; energy efficiency; air; urban and coastal water; threatened species; and landscapes and ecosystems conservation.

Parks and Wildlife Group

The Parks and Wildlife Group is responsible for the growth and management of the protected area system and field-based wildlife management. The Group ensures the conservation of protected native flora and fauna within the reserve system and wilderness areas and promotes community awareness, understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural heritage.

Broadly, the Parks and Wildlife Group has the following functions:

• Manages parks and protected areas and assets
• Manages the reserve acquisition process
• Manages on-park Aboriginal and historic heritage sites and areas/buildings of significance
• Develops, implements and reviews operational policy, programs and procedures pertaining to the protected area system and wildlife management
• Undertakes field-based wildlife management, including incident control and first response law enforcement
• Manages on-park threatened species
• Addresses on-park pest and weed management issues
• Develops community partnerships and delivers educational programs
• Provides visitor facilities and promotes tourism opportunities
• Ensures appropriate fire suppression/protection and management across the reserve system
• Undertakes state of the parks reporting and the development of management effectiveness indicators.

Country, Culture and Heritage Division

The Country, Culture and Heritage Division guides and directs OEH's approach to identifying, understanding and conserving cultural heritage. The Division also directs and manages the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio on behalf of the agency.

Broadly, the Country, Culture and Heritage Division has the following functions:

• Works with Aboriginal communities, private and public landowners, local councils and Catchment Management Authorities to protect and conserve Aboriginal cultural heritage
• Leads the development of strategic policies, strategies and programs that support the involvement of Aboriginal people in the management of their traditional lands, waters and natural resources (Country)
• Undertakes research and disseminates the findings to improve the understanding of the nature and distribution of our cultural heritage across the landscape
• Manages cultural heritage information systems and provides cultural heritage information services
• Leads the development of methodologies, standards and priorities for regional Aboriginal heritage assessments
• Provides technical services for the conservation of cultural heritage within parks, reserves and botanic gardens
• Coordinates key OEH-wide cultural heritage programs
• Supports all areas of OEH and the EPA in building relationships with and providing services to Aboriginal communities across NSW
• Coordinates OEH's responsibilities under the NSW Aboriginal Affairs Plan: Two Ways Together and related State Plan priorities.

Scientific Services Division

The Scientific Services Division undertakes scientific research, investigation, monitoring, analysis, evaluation and reporting on a wide range of natural resource and environmental issues. This helps OEH and the EPA achieve their corporate goals and responsibilities based on the best available scientific information.

Broadly, the Scientific Services Division has the following functions:

• Provides information and technical support to the other Divisions of OEH, the EPA, catchment management authorities and other clients
• Undertakes long-term research to improve knowledge
• Develops expertise to address immediate priorities
• Provides links between environment protection and resource management through improved knowledge of catchment processes
• Develops information management systems to enable multiple uses for agency data
• Gathers information to map and assess changes in environmental attributes
• Assesses the impacts on contaminants on the environment.

Conservation and Regulation

Conservation and Regulation Division work focuses on biodiversity and native vegetation management and programs, and on supporting planning processes, including those which may impact on Aboriginal Country and culture.

Conservation and Regulation Division has the following functions:

• Assesses our biodiversity and delivers conservation programs designed to protect and improve the biodiversity of NSW
• Delivers OEH's input to regional conservation, natural resource management and land-use planning processes
• Coordinates the assessment and approval processes associated with proposed major developments
• Designs and delivers the NSW kangaroo management program

Policy, Economics and Governance Division

The Policy, Economics and Governance Division delivers services across the full spectrum of business activities undertaken by OEH and the EPA, supporting the achievement of the organisation’s corporate goals and the Government’s priorities.

The Policy, Economics and Governance Division's six service areas are: Public Affairs, Information and Publishing, Ministerial and Parliamentary Services, Corporate Governance, Economic Services and Reform and Policy and Evaluation.

Broadly, the Policy, Economics and Governance Division's key functions include:

• Building the organisation's capabilities in strategic policy and evaluation
• Leading major portfolio level initiatives to improve organisational performance
• Leading the organisation and Minister’s engagement with Ministerial Councils
• Developing internal and external communication strategies, including communication with the public, stakeholders and the media
• Supporting the Minister with delivering programs and coordinating workflows
• Corporate planning, annual reporting, risk management and internal audit
• Ensuring compliance with corporate governance policies and relevant legislation such as the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009
• Providing strong economic and stakeholder analysis to formulate successful plans and policies.

Corporate Services Division

The Corporate Services Division develops, manages and implements a broad range of corporate services that support and contribute to the achievement of the business strategies and goals of OEH and the EPA. These include information technology, human resources, finance and administrative services.

Broadly, the Corporate Services Division has the following functions:

• Determines and implements policies, programs and procedures in relation to financial and human resource management, information technology and administration infrastructures, and maintains and reports related management data
• Develops, manages and has accountability for OEH's annual operating and capital budgets and guides the Executive, senior managers and staff on financial matters, oversees expenditure, monitors budget achievement, and prepares, reviews and presents material to Parliament's Budget Estimates Committee
• Negotiates with central government agencies regarding resourcing implications of new initiatives impacting on the department
• Negotiates with unions on industrial relations matters
• Determines and administers appropriate information technologies
• Provides payroll, recruitment, accounts payable and receivable services via the Service Centre
• Manages risks associated with occupational health and safety.