WaterNSW has responsibility for the quality of water in Greater Sydney’s drinking water catchment areas. NPWS is the primary conservation agency in NSW and is also the landowner of reserves within the Special Areas that have been gazetted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) (NPW Act). Objectives of the NPW Act include the conservation of natural and cultural values in the landscape – objectives that are complementary to the WNSW Act requirement to protect water quality and ecological integrity.
Joint sponsorship of the Special Areas requires an integrated approach to management based on a shared vision. Section 52 of the WNSW Act requires the joint sponsors to prepare a plan of management for the Special Areas and Section 53 requires the joint sponsors to implement the plan. The Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management 2015 applies to all Special Areas, however, the requirements of this plan do not apply to owners of private land in Special Areas.
