Department of Regional NSW

The Department of Regional NSW is a department of the New South Wales Government. A central focus for the department is enhancing the liveability of regional and rural communities by strengthening local workforces and attracting key workers, boosting housing, and empowering the diversification of local economies.[1]

Department of Regional NSW
Department overview
Formed2 April 2020 (2020-04-02)
Preceding Department
TypeDepartment
JurisdictionNew South Wales
Headquarters1 Monaro St, Queanbeyan,
New South Wales, Australia
Department executive
Websitewww.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw

The department is a central agency and advises across government on issues affecting the state’s regions, which are home to about one-third of the NSW population.

Key responsibilities of the department also include building stronger primary industries, driving local investment and economic development, brokering solutions to strengthen social cohesion, overseeing productive and sustainable land use and natural resources, and delivering local infrastructure and grant programs.

The department was established on 2 April 2020 to coordinate support for communities, businesses and farmers hit by the Black Summer bushfires and drought.[2] The department went onto support additional crises including floods and COVID-19, becoming a key voice advocating for local communities within government. It assumed the functions of the Regions, Industry, Agriculture and Resources division from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. It also brought together Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services, Resources and Geoscience and regional coordination across the government.

Structure

The Department is the lead agency in the Regional NSW cluster, led by the Secretary Rebecca Fox,[3] who reports to the following ministers:[4][5]

Ultimately the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

Agencies

The following agencies are included in the Regional NSW cluster, administered by the Department:[6][4][7]

  • Department of Primary Industries
  • Forestry Corporation of NSW (state-owned corporation)
  • Local Land Services
  • Mining, Exploration and Geoscience (MEG)
  • Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation
  • NSW Resources Regulator
  • Office of the Cross-Border Commissioner
  • Public Works
  • Soil Conservation Service

Office locations

Nearly 80 per cent of the department’s staff live in the regional communities they serve.[8] In June 2020, it was announced that the department will have four offices, located at Queanbeyan, Armidale, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour.[9] Staff are also based in other regional centres, including Wagga Wagga and Nowra.

See also

References
  1. NSW, Department of Regional (21 September 2022). "Department of Regional NSW". NSW Government. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. "New Regional NSW Department set up". Government News. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. NSW, Department of Regional (21 November 2022). "Retirement of the Secretary of the Department of Regional NSW | NSW Government". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "Governance arrangements chart" (PDF). New South Wales Department of Premier & Cabinet. 3 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. "Our Ministers". Department of Regional NSW. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  6. "Our work". Department of Regional NSW. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  7. "Regional NSW, Department of". Service NSW - NSW Government Directory. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. NSW, Department of Regional (30 September 2022). "Our people - Department of Regional NSW". NSW Government. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. "Department of Regional NSW offices to boost jobs in the bush". NSW Government. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
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