Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Department Role
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) aims to lead environment
and heritage protection and sustainability in Queensland. The department is responsible
for managing the health and resilience of the environment to protect Queensland’s
unique ecosystems, including its landscapes and waterways, as well as its native plants
and animals and biodiversity. It also acts as a strong environmental regulator to support
sustainable long-term economic development. EHP delivers its regulatory obligations
through administrating a range of environmental laws and regulations; providing timely
approvals and ensuring compliance with them. EHP is also responsible for identifying
and conserving the State’s built heritage places.
Resources
Full time equivalent employees1 – 1,050
2015-16 Portfolio Budget2:
 Controlled
 Administered
$205,019,000
$7,123,000
Department Structure
Director General
Department Chief Executive.
Office of the Director-General
The Office of the Director-General supports the Director General in running the
Department and fulfilling their responsibilities.
Conservation and Sustainability Services
Conservation and Sustainability Services (CSS) is responsible for the implementation of
programs to conserve and enhance the health of the State’s natural environment. CSS
focuses on ensuring the diversity and integrity of Queensland’s natural ecosystems are
preserved and conservation status of native species are maintained or enhanced.
Environmental Services and Regulation
The Environmental Services and Regulation (ESR) Division provides targeted, consistent
and transparent regulation that facilitates sustainable development in Queensland.
Regulation activities are aligned with environmental outcomes without placing
unnecessary burden on industry or the community. ESR proactively manages and
monitors environmental risks through a modern and innovative regulatory framework that
includes assessment, compliance, investigation and enforcement programs.
1
2
Source: State Budget 2015-16 Service Delivery Statements. As at June 2015.
Source: State Budget 2015-16 Service Delivery Statements
Environmental Policy and Planning
Environmental Policy and Planning (EPP) is responsible for developing and reforming
strategy, policy and legislation to support the Queensland Government’s environment
and heritage agenda. Key focus areas include climate, water quality, waste, coastal,
planning and development, heritage, air and chemicals, state of the environment
reporting, and environmental protection and reef policy. EPP provides context and
direction to the day-to-day operating procedures that guide the work of the department’s
Conservation and Sustainability Services and Environmental Services and Regulation
divisions.
Office of the Great Barrier Reef
Office of the Great Barrier Reef (OGBR) coordinates the government’s reef strategies
and programs to drive improved accountability for reef health outcomes. Its primary role
is to work with a range of agencies and organisations which are responsible for delivery,
and overseeing effective implementation. Key outputs from the OGBR will include
implementation progress reports for the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan and
Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, along with research and policy analysis products,
reef communication products, annual reef report cards and the identification of reef
research and monitoring needs.
Corporate Services
Corporate Services (CS) is responsible for delivering effective and efficient business
support, and providing leadership in planning, resource allocation and management,
monitoring and reporting. CS provides services through a Business and Corporate
Partnership (BCP) arrangement. Under the BCP services are delivered to EHP; and in
the case of some services; up to five other departments.
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Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
- Portfolio Entities
Wet Tropics Management Authority
The Wet Tropics Management Authority (the Authority) was established to ensure
Australia’s obligation under the World Heritage Convention is met in relation to the Wet
Tropics Management Area. It works in partnership with other agencies, stakeholders and
the wider community and has produced a range of strategic policy and planning
documents which guide management of the World Heritage Area, consistent with its
legislative responsibilities. The Authority’s statutory powers are defined under the Wet
Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993. The Authority is funded
by the Commonwealth and Queensland Government, reporting to both on its
performance against agreed outcomes.
Queensland Heritage Council
The Queensland Heritage Council is established under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992
to:
 provide strategic advice to the Minister about matters relating to Queensland’s cultural
heritage
 provide information to the community to encourage interest in, and understanding of,
Queensland’s cultural heritage
 advise entities, including government and community organisations about conserving
Queensland’s cultural heritage
 encourage the appropriate management of places of cultural heritage significance
 enter places into and remove places from the Queensland Heritage Register.
Board of Trustees of Newstead House
Newstead House, Queensland’s oldest surviving private residence, is managed by the
Newstead House Board of Trustees. The Board is established under the Newstead
House Trust Act 1939.
The board’s key responsibilities are to:
 ensure the conservation and preservation of Newstead House
 investigate and secure opportunities for alternative income streams for Newstead
House
 identify and pursue relationships with potential heritage and cultural partners to
raise the awareness, understanding and use of Newstead House more broadly.
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Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
– Acts Administered
Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007 (except to the extent administered by the
Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines)
Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995
Environmental Offsets Act 2014
Environmental Protection Act 1994
Gurulmundi Secure Landfill Agreement Act 1992
Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Act 2001 (to the extent that it is relevant to environmental
matters)
National Environment Protection Council (Queensland) Act 1994
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (except to the extent that it is relevant to demonstrated
and exhibited native animals and to the extent that it is relevant to the management of
the protected area estate and forest reserves, not including nature refuges)
(jointly administered with the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for
Sport and Racing)
Newstead House Trust Act 1939
North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act 2011
Queensland Heritage Act 1992
Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011
Water Act 2000 (Chapter 3)
Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993
Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
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