Former Chief Executive John Schutz at the Tennyson Dunes Open Day, 23 September 2018
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is a department of the Government of South Australia. It is responsible for ensuring that the state of South Australia's natural resources are managed productively and sustainably, while improving the condition and resilience of the state's natural environment.
The current department was created on 1 July 2012 by the merger of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department for Water as the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), it was given its present name on 22 March 2018.
History of the environment portfolio
On 23 December 1971, a new department called the Department of Environment and Conservation was created by the amalgamation of the Museum Department and the State Planning Office which was part of the Department of the Premier and of Development.[3]
On 18 December 1975, the Department of Environment and Conservation was renamed as the Department for the Environment following a merger with the Botanic Garden Department.[4]
On 11 May 1981, the Department for the Environment and the Department of Urban and Regional Affairs were merged with the Department of Environment and Planning which was created on 7 August 1980 when it only consisted of the office of its first permanent head.[5][6]
On 8 October 1992, the Department of Environment and Planning was abolished on 8 October 1992 and its parts were distributed to new entities including the Department of Environment and Land Management which included the entirety of the former Department of Lands which was also abolished on 8 October 1992.[7]
On 1 October 1993, the Department of Environment and Land Management was renamed as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.[8]
On 23 October 1997, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was abolished and replaced in part by the Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs which also included “employees” of other abolished “Administrative Units” such as the Department of State Aboriginal Affairs and the Department of Mines and Energy.[9]
In 1999, the Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs became the Department for Environment and Heritage.[10]
On 1 July 2010, the Department for Environment and Heritage was renamed for the second time as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.[10][11]
On 1 July 2012, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources became the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) after acquiring the roles and responsibilities of the former Department of Water. This created the current (2024) incarnation of the department.[12][13][14] it was given its present name on 22 March 2018.[15]
Following the Liberal Party's victory in the 2018 state election, the department was renamed as the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) on 2 March 2018.[16]
People
Deputy Premier Susan Close, who is also Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, has responsibility for the department.[17]
As of February 2024[update], the chief executive of the department is Ben Bruce, who took over from John Schutz.[18]
The Premier's Climate Change Council was established under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007, with the inaugural council created in February 2008. The primary role of the Council is to provide independent advice to the Minister for Environment and Water on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.[19]
↑ Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. "Workplace Information Report 2022-2023"(PDF). Public Sector SA. South Australian Government. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
↑ Department for Environment and Water. "2022-2023 Annual Report"(PDF). Department for Environment and Water. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
↑ Banfield, D. H. (18 December 1975). "Public Service Act, 1967-1975..."(PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p.3280. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
Seal Bay Conservation Park is a protected area located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island in the Australian state of South Australia. It is the home of the third largest Australian sea lion colony in Australia.
The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) was a department of the New South Wales Government, responsible for effective and sustainable planning to support the growth in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It made plans based on evidence for the state's cities and regions, working with the community, business and local government to create places for people in NSW to live, work and spend their leisure time, while ensuring good access to transport and other services like shops and restaurants. The department was also responsible for the evidence-based assessment of state significant development applications.
Ngarkat Conservation Park is a protected area located in South Australia's south-eastern corner about 200 kilometres south east of the Adelaide city centre.
The Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, formerly known as The Breakaways Reserve or simply The Breakaways, is a protected area in northern South Australia, just off the Stuart Highway 33 km (21 mi) north of Coober Pedy.
Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park is a protected area located in the north-east of South Australia about 110 kilometres north-west of Innamincka.
Great Australian Bight Marine National Park is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located 918 km (570 mi) west of the state capital of Adelaide.
Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary was a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located immediately off the coastline of the Great Australian Bight in waters about 790 km (491 mi) west-northwest of the state capital of Adelaide.
Telowie Gorge Conservation Park, formerly Telowie Gorge National Park, was a protected area located in the Australian state of South Australia to the east of the town of Port Germein in the gazetted locality of Telowie. It became part of the Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park on 25 November 2021.
Yellabinna is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located to the north of the town of Ceduna in the western part of the state.
The Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park is a protected area located in South Australia about 5 kilometres north-west of the town of Quorn in the Flinders Ranges. It includes a mountain known as The Dutchmans Stern from which its name is derived.
Nilpena Ediacara National Park, which includes the former Ediacara Conservation Park, is a protected area located in the northern Flinders Ranges, in the state of South Australia. It is located about around 551 km (342 mi) north of the city of Adelaide, around 30 kilometres south-west of the town of Leigh Creek in the state's Far North.
Pualco Range Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the locality of Pualco Range about 30 kilometres south of the town of Yunta in the state's Far North region.
Cooltong Conservation Park is a protected area located in South Australia about 6 kilometres west of the town of Renmark in the Riverland of South Australia. The conservation park was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 in 1993 to "preserve quality mallee vegetation and habitat for the mallee bird species that frequent the area, in particular the Malleefowl." As of 2011, the conservation park was described as being "dominated by mallee vegetation, with undulating dunes and shales" and that it is "popular among birdwatchers eager to catch a glimpse of elusive mallee birds." Services provided within the conservation park as of 2011 include bushwalking, picnic grounds and vehicle tracks only accessible by 4WD vehicles. The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.
Tallaringa Conservation Park is a protected area located in the west of the Australian state of South Australia about 615 kilometres north west of the city of Port Augusta and about 90 kilometres west of the town of Coober Pedy. The conservation park was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 in 1991.
Seal Bay Aquatic Reserve was a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in waters off the south coast of Kangaroo Island immediately adjoining and including the intertidal zone within the locality of Seal Bay which is also part of the Seal Bay Conservation Park.
Bales Beach Aquatic Reserve was a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in waters off the south coast of Kangaroo Island immediately adjoining and including the intertidal zone within the locality of Seal Bay whose full extent is occupied by the Seal Bay Conservation Park.
Conservation reserves of South Australia is a class of protected area used in the Australian state of South Australia where crown land under the control of the responsible minister has been dedicated for conservation purposes. This class of protected area has been in use as early as 1985. In 2016 there were 15 conservation reserves that covered an area of 194.7 square kilometres. As of March 2022 the number had increased to 16 conservation reserves covering 193.6 square kilometres or less than 1% of South Australia's land area.
Boondina Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the west of the state in the gazetted locality of Yellabinna about 38 kilometres (24 mi) north-east of the town centre in Fowlers Bay.
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