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| Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources |
| Formed | 2012 |
| Preceding1 | Department for Water |
| Preceding2 | Department of Environment and Heritage |
| Dissolved | 2018 |
| Superseding | Department for Environment and Water |
| Jurisdiction | South Australia |
| Headquarters | Adelaide |
| Minister | Ian Hunter, David Speirs, Paul Caica |
| Chief1 name | Claire Martin |
| Parent agency | Government of South Australia |
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources was a South Australian public service agency responsible for environmental management, water resources, and natural heritage between 2012 and 2018. It administered conservation areas, regulated water allocation, and implemented biodiversity programs across South Australia, interacting with entities such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Natural Resources Management Act 2004, and state portfolios overseen by ministers in the Marshall Ministry and Weatherill Ministry. The agency worked alongside national bodies like the Commonwealth of Australia, regional organizations such as the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, and international frameworks including the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The agency was created through an administrative reorganization drawing from antecedent bodies including the Department for Water, Department of Environment and Heritage, and functions from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions. Its formation followed political changes in the Rann Ministry and the Kiely Report reviews of public administration, aligning with statewide strategies outlined in the South Australian Strategic Plan and responses to events like the Murray–Darling Basin Plan negotiations. During its tenure the department navigated crises such as the Adelaide Hills bushfires, contentious water allocations tied to the Murray River system, and implementation of recommendations from commissions like the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (South Australia). The department was restructured in 2018 under the Marshall Ministry to form the Department for Environment and Water.
The department’s remit encompassed protection of native species under acts like the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, water planning pursuant to the Water Act 2007 (South Australia), management of protected areas including Kangaroo Island reserves and Flinders Ranges conservation parks, and oversight of coastal zones such as the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf. It administered fire management in collaboration with the Country Fire Service (South Australia), invasive species control relevant to issues noted in Parks Victoria and New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, and heritage site stewardship comparable to the Australian Heritage Council. Regulatory responsibilities intersected with instruments like the Environment Protection Act 1993 and regional plans associated with the Mount Lofty Ranges.
The department operated under ministerial leadership with executive oversight by a chief executive reporting to portfolio ministers who had also served in cabinets such as the Weatherill Ministry and Marshall Ministry. Divisions included Biodiversity and Conservation, Water and River Management, Parks and Visitor Services, Policy and Reform, and Compliance and Regulation, mirroring structures seen in agencies like Parks Victoria, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Regional offices were located in centres including Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta, and Whyalla to coordinate with local stakeholders such as the Limestone Coast Landscape Board and community groups in the Yorke Peninsula.
Major initiatives included implementation of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 precursors, catchment restoration projects in the River Murray corridor, feral animal and weed control programs influenced by models from the Australian Pest Animal Management Program, coastal adaptation strategies in response to considerations similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change findings, and visitor management in high-profile reserves such as Flinders Chase National Park and Belair National Park. The department administered grant schemes for community groups akin to those run by the Australian Government's natural resource management programs, ran threatened species recovery plans for taxa comparable to those listed under the EPBC Act, and coordinated major fire mitigation and hazard reduction works in cooperation with the Country Fire Service (South Australia).
Its activities were governed by a suite of South Australian statutes and interconnected Commonwealth laws, including the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Environment Protection Act 1993, the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, and obligations arising from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Policy instruments drew on the South Australian Strategic Plan, state water allocation frameworks developed in response to the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement, and environmental impact assessment procedures comparable to those applied by the Federal Court of Australia and administrative bodies such as the State Planning Commission (South Australia).
The department partnered with federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, river management organizations such as the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, local government councils including the Adelaide Hills Council and City of Onkaparinga, research institutions like the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and University of South Australia, and non-government conservation groups such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and Nature Conservation Society of South Australia. It also engaged with Indigenous bodies like the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation and native title representatives in line with precedents set by cases like Mabo v Queensland (No 2).
The agency confronted criticism over water allocations tied to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, disputes over resource development approvals similar to controversies involving Nyrstar and mining projects in the Copper Coast, management of invasive species paralleling debates seen in Tasmania and Western Australia, and perceived shortcomings in fire prevention after events akin to the Cudlee Creek fire. Environmental advocates, industry groups, and regional councils debated its decisions, echoing tensions in other jurisdictions such as disputes involving the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and state conservation agencies. Legal challenges and public inquiries referenced administrative practices comparable to reviews undertaken by the South Australian Ombudsman.
Category:Environment of South Australia Category:Government agencies of South Australia