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| Roads and Maritime Services (New South Wales) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Roads and Maritime Services |
| Native name | RMS |
| Formed | 2011 |
| Preceding1 | Department of Main Roads (New South Wales) |
| Preceding2 | NSW Maritime |
| Dissolved | 2019 |
| Superseding | Transport for NSW |
| Jurisdiction | New South Wales |
| Headquarters | Sydney |
| Minister1 name | Gladys Berejiklian |
| Chief1 name | Duncan Gay |
Roads and Maritime Services (New South Wales) was an executive agency responsible for road and maritime transport infrastructure across New South Wales between 2011 and 2019, administering licensing, vehicle registration, traffic management and shipping safety, and delivering major infrastructure programs in metropolitan Sydney and regional areas such as the Hunter Region and the Illawarra. Its portfolio intersected with agencies including Transport for NSW, Infrastructure NSW, and local government bodies such as Wollongong City Council and Newcastle City Council, and it operated under legislative instruments like the Roads Act 1993 and the Marine Safety Act 1998 (NSW). The agency engaged with national entities including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Australasian Rail Association on intermodal initiatives.
Roads and Maritime Services was created by the merger of Department of Main Roads (New South Wales) and NSW Maritime in 2011 as part of administrative reforms by the New South Wales Government under the premiership of Barry O'Farrell, consolidating functions previously split across agencies such as the RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) and legacy departments from the era of the Second Carr ministry. Its establishment followed policy reviews influenced by reports from Infrastructure Australia and advice from the Public Service Commission (New South Wales), and it administered inherited assets including Sydney orbital routes like the M2 Hills Motorway and harbour assets such as the Port of Newcastle. Over its tenure the agency responded to events including the 2015 New South Wales floods, coordinating with emergency services such as the NSW State Emergency Service and the NSW Police Force. In 2019, a machinery-of-government change under the Gladys Berejiklian ministry led to its functions being absorbed into Transport for NSW.
RMS managed licencing and registration functions covering driver licensing for classes regulated under the Australian Driver Licensing Agreement, vehicle registration and transfer processes linked to systems used by NSW Police Force and insurers like NRMA Insurance, road asset maintenance on arterial corridors such as the Hume Highway and the Pacific Highway, and maritime safety regulation for commercial vessels under frameworks shared with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and ports authorities like Port Botany. The organisation delivered traffic management, incident response in coordination with the RMS Traffic Command and Roads and Maritime Services Marine Command, administered heavy vehicle access consistent with provisions in the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and enforced compliance measures alongside agencies like the NSW Environment Protection Authority at marine pollution incidents.
The agency was led by a Chief Executive reporting to the Minister for Roads and worked through divisions overseeing asset services, maritime operations, traffic and safety, commercial services, and regional delivery covering districts such as Northern NSW District, Southern NSW District, and Western Sydney. RMS maintained regional offices in centres including Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, and Coffs Harbour, and liaised with statutory corporations including Ports Australia member ports and road contractors such as Transurban. Governance involved boards and advisory panels drawing expertise from stakeholders like the Australian Automobile Association and academic institutions including the University of New South Wales.
RMS delivered and managed major projects including upgrade works on the Pacific Highway, capacity improvements on the Great Western Highway, and maintenance of Sydney harbour infrastructure including the Sydney Harbour Bridge approaches and ferry wharves used by Sydney Ferries. It coordinated with private sector partners on toll roads operated by entities like WestConnex consortium members and facilitated projects funded through mechanisms promoted by Infrastructure NSW and the Australian Government's stimulus programs during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 aftermath. RMS also oversaw regional freight corridor upgrades impacting the Newell Highway and interfaced with rail authorities such as Sydney Trains where road–rail interchanges required integrated planning.
RMS enforced roadworthiness standards, heavy vehicle fatigue management aligned with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator framework, and maritime safety regimes including vessel survey and crew certification systems coordinated with the Australian Maritime College and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Its compliance activities included roadside heavy vehicle inspections in partnership with the NSW Police Force and accident investigation support for incidents involving arterial routes like the Hume Motorway and ferry operations that interfaced with the Maritime Union of Australia. RMS promulgated safety campaigns in collaboration with community groups such as NRMA and research bodies like Monash University’s Accident Research Centre.
The agency implemented ITS technologies including traffic signal coordination and CCTV networks in Sydney CBD corridors, advanced traveler information systems linked to the Live Traffic NSW platform, and digital licensing initiatives integrating database systems used by the Australian Registrars' Association. RMS trialled pavement technologies and intelligent pavement management with partners such as the University of Sydney and consulted international standards from bodies like the International Organization for Standardization. It explored maritime vessel tracking and electronic reporting compatible with the Automatic Identification System and engaged with private sector technology providers including firms akin to Thales Group and IBM for systems integration.
In 2019 RMS was merged into Transport for NSW as part of a reorganisation under the New South Wales Government intending to create integrated transport governance across road, rail, and maritime modes, folding RMS functions into portfolios that included agencies such as Sydney Metro Authority and policy units within Transport for NSW itself. The transition involved asset transfers, staff redeployment under industrial instruments negotiated with unions including the Public Service Association of NSW, and program realignment for continuing projects like WestConnex and Pacific Highway upgrades, while regulatory interactions continued with national counterparts such as the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
Category:Transport in New South Wales Category:Defunct government agencies of New South Wales