Department of Planning and Environment

Department of the New South Wales Government

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. The department was renamed from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) on 21 December 2021. The DPIE was formed on 1 July 2019 following the 2019 state election and replaced an earlier Department of Planning and Environment and Department of Industry. The department was also responsible for the development of industry until these functions were transferred to the new Department of Regional NSW in April 2020.

The establishment of a new planning department was announced in April 2019 following the 2019 state election. The new department would be formed from the merger of the Department of Planning and Environment and Department of Industry, the latter formed in July 2015. The new department was originally planned to be named the Department of Planning and Industry. The Office of Local Government and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) would also be abolished and merged into the new department. The heritage functions of the OEH were an exception and would be assumed by the Heritage Branch within Department of Premier and Cabinet, later known as Heritage NSW. The abolition of the OEH and the lack of the word "Environment" in the name of the new department generated criticism from OEH staff, environmental groups and the opposition. In May 2019, the "Environment" word was added to the proposed name. All proposed changes took effect on 1 July 2019 and the new department was established. Shortly after moving into the building, the department was criticised by unions and some staff for spending $1,246,000 fitting out its new offices with indoor plants. The expenditure was not supported by the planning minister, Rob Stokes. In April 2020, the Regions, Industry, Agriculture and Resources division of DPIE was spun out as the Department of Regional NSW, a separate government department. On 21 December 2021, the reduced DPIE was renamed back the Department of Planning and Environment. The trust, along with the Luna Park Reserve Trust, Place Management NSW and the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, were transferred from DoPE to Transport for NSW on 1 April 2022.

Following a media release on 18 August 2023, it was announced that, as of 1 January 2024, the department would be split into two new entities: the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The former would also be joined by the Office of Energy and Climate Change, which was until then a part of the New South Wales Treasury.

The department was responsible to the cluster's three portfolio ministers: at the time of its dissolution, the Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Heritage, the Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC; the Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson MLC; the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP. All ministers were ultimately responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales. The department administered the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.