Agency Information Guide
This is a guide to the information held by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and how to access it. The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 gives you the right to access government information such as this.
The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act) gives members of the public an enforceable right to access NSW Government information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. To assist the public, each agency publishes a guide to the information held and how to access it.
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is committed to ensuring that members of the public can access information about us easily and at the lowest reasonable cost. This page sets out our Agency Information Guide, which outlines:
- who we are
- what we do
- the information we make available
- how you can access it.
The purpose of the Agency Information Guide is to provide information on:
- the structure and functions of the department
- the ways in which the functions of the department, including the decision-making functions, affect members of the public
- arrangements in place to enable members of the public to participate in the formulation of the department’s policies and the exercise of our functions
- the kinds of government information held by the department
- the kinds of government information held by the department that we make publicly available
- how the department makes, or will make, government information publicly available
- the kinds of information that are, or will be, made publicly available free of charge and those for which a charge is, or will be, imposed.
Where appropriate, we provide links to documents, reports, data and other information throughout the Agency Information Guide.
The Agency Information Guide is reviewed regularly and at least every 12 months. It was last reviewed in July 2025.
About us
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water was established on 1 January 2024 as a dedicated department to tackle climate change, lead the energy transition, protect the environment, care for heritage and manage the state’s water assets.
You can find information about the groups, entities and agencies that make up the department on our home page.
Our structure and functions
Our organisational structure includes 6 core groups. Most of our activities have a direct impact on the public. Below, we outline our core functions and how they affect the public.
Agency functions and descriptions
The Water Group leads the NSW water sector in the strategic management of water to support environments, economies and communities. The group works to ensure the delivery of sustainable and resilient water services, infrastructure and policy frameworks to meet the NSW Government’s commitment to improve water security, reliability and quality.
It engages directly with members of the public to ensure water resources are managed effectively. This affects the public by enhancing community wellbeing, supporting local environments and ensuring access to safe, reliable and sustainable natural resources.
The Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability group leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy powered by affordable, reliable and clean energy. It collaborates and partners with a range of agencies and stakeholders to deliver outcomes for all of New South Wales. This includes the policies, legislation and programs that provide incentives and support sustainable choices for our households, businesses, communities and environment.
The group delivers government reforms, economic development and critical services around supplying reliable and affordable energy. This affects the public by supporting a sustainable and climate-resilient New South Wales, including emissions reduction and climate adaptation, while also leading on energy security and reliability for the state.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service functions to conserve and protect biodiversity, natural and cultural heritage. It manages over 895 protected areas, including national parks and reserves, covering more than 7.6 million hectares of land.
This affects the public through direct engagement with these protected areas. National parks and preserves provide vital habitats, support cultural heritage and offer opportunities for recreation, education and connection to nature for the people of New South Wales.
The Strategic Policy, Science and Engagement group supports the department through the provision of high-quality scientific research and policy development. The communications and engagement function supports work across the department.
This affects the public through the provision of evidence-informed decision making, communications and engagement, and policy development that leads to better environmental outcomes.
The Corporate and Enabling Services group provides essential support functions that enable the department to operate efficiently and achieve its strategic goals. It helps drive productivity, innovation and overall organisational success.
By delivering high-quality legal, governance and risk services, financial management and procurement, human resourcing and safety, strategic ICT and program management support, reporting and evaluation, the group ensures the department can deliver vital services and outcomes for the people of New South Wales.
This affects the public by ensuring government services are well-managed, reliable and responsive to community needs.
The Conservation Programs, Heritage and Regulation group consolidates conservation and heritage program and regulatory functions to protect and restore the natural environment, sustain and improve water resources, and celebrate and manage the heritage of New South Wales for the public's benefit.
The department’s network also includes entities, including state-owned corporations and statutory bodies, created under their own legislation. These include, but are not limited to:
- Biodiversity Conservation Trust
- Dams Safety NSW
- EnergyCo
- Natural Resources Access Regulator
- NSW Environment Protection Authority
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia
- Water Administration Ministerial Corporation.
Functions provided by legislation
The department operates under a broad legislative framework, with various laws governing its functions. Some of these legislative responsibilities extend across multiple groups. For more information about the legislation administered by the department, see our annual report.
Our Code of Ethics and Conduct
People across New South Wales are affected by how we perform our functions. The department’s employees are required to act in the public interest and are bound by the values described in our Code of Ethics and Conduct. These values are integrity, service, trust and accountability.
How to participate in what we do
The department offers many ways for you to participate in what we do. We seek public participation and feedback about our functions and policy development through formal feedback channels such as the NSW Government Have your say portal or through our individual group and agency websites.
On our group and agency websites, you can enter your details to view or subscribe to departmental content. For example, you can subscribe to receive Water Group email updates, get the latest national parks news or view Environment and Heritage news and media releases.
Our contact details
We welcome your feedback, questions, comments and complaints.
Postal address
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124
Street address
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
4 Parramatta Square
12 Darcy Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
By phone
For group and division phone numbers, go to:
Visit our home page for more information.
For media enquiries and information for journalists, email media@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
Types of information held by the department
The department keep records associated with our core functions. These involve regulation, policy development and the provision of services.
While performing our core functions, the department may collect, store, use and disclose personal information of members of the public in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 and our Privacy Management Plan.
We hold a range of information, including:
- legislative and policy documents – including legislation, practice notes, guidelines and procedural manuals that govern the department’s operations
- open access information – including our disclosure log, register of government contracts and documents tabled in parliament
- financial records – encompassing budgets, bank statements, reconciliation reports, invoices, purchase orders and other financial documentation
- legal and governance documents – including legal agreements, board and committee minutes and documents related to appointments to official positions
- NSW environmental data (SEED portal)
- climate projections information (NARCliM)
- public registers and licensing information – records under legislation administered by the department, including licensing and compliance details
- communication and media materials – encompassing media releases, news clippings, marketing collateral, brand guidelines and public announcements
- reports and research – including fact sheets, technical reports, briefings, submissions and manuals that inform policy and decision making
- correspondence and stakeholder engagement – records including correspondence, external stakeholder meetings and community consultation activities
- personnel and human resource (HR) records – covering recruitment, remuneration, performance appraisals and HR policies and practices
- executive and administrative records – including executive committee minutes, internal governance records and departmental administration documents
- grant and funding programs – detailing grants, agreements and funding programs managed or supported by the department
- operational and procedural guidelines – documenting internal policies, workflows and operational procedures for departmental functions
- environmental licensing and compliance – including records about licensing, permits and regulatory compliance activities under environmental laws
- annual reports and performance data – including our annual reports, performance dashboards, statistics and key departmental metrics.
How to access information
Under the GIPA Act, the department must disclose or release information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. There are some limited exceptions to this general rule – for example, where dealing with an application would constitute a significant and unreasonable diversion of an agency’s resources. The department will provide all access applicants with a written explanation of the decisions we make under the GIPA Act.
Fundamental to our obligation to release information is acknowledging the overarching presumption in favour of disclosure of information. This is the starting point for all decisions we make about information access.
We make information available under the GIPA Act in 4 ways:
- open access information
- proactive release of information
- informal access
- formal access.
The department has a dedicated unit for GIPA applications. This unit decides applications for the department and on behalf of the Natural Resources Access Regulator, the Jenolan Caves Trust, the Environmental Trust, Dams Safety NSW, the Lord Howe Island Board, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust and the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo).
The Environment Protection Authority and Taronga Conservation Society Australia are separate agencies under the GIPA Act and have their own information access units – see Access to information: Environment Protection Authority and Obtaining information: Taronga Conservation Society.
Under the GIPA Act, we are required to make certain information available for free. This is called ‘open access information’ and includes our:
- Agency Information Guide
- tabled documents in NSW Parliament
- policy documents
- disclosure log of access applications
- register of government contracts
- class 3 contracts register
- major assets, acquisitions and property disposals
- Code of Ethics and Conduct
- information about grants administration
- annual reports
- media releases
- advertising compliance certificates
- social media guidelines.
Our websites include a large volume of material that covers many policies and projects. We try to release as much government information as possible, free of charge, on our websites or by request to gipa@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
Our disclosure log is a record of information that the department has released under the GIPA Act that we consider may be of interest to members of the public. It provides details about how information released through GIPA can be accessed. This log is regularly updated as the department releases additional information under the GIPA Act.
We may decide not to make some information publicly available if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. We keep a register of this information at Information access, governance and feedback.
The department’s program for the proactive release of information involves analysing data collected on requests for information under the GIPA Act over the financial year, considering the kinds of government information held by the agency that may be suitable for proactive release, and asking our groups and divisions to consider information relevant to the agency that we want the public to know about.
Our open data practice is aligned to the NSW Government Open Data Policy and seeks to make appropriate government data available to industry and the community. Open data supports the open government principles of transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation. It supports the proactive release of information required under the GIPA Act.
Some examples of information that we proactively release are:
- our Water Hub – where you can explore and discuss water data
- the SEED portal – a central place to find data about the NSW environment
- NARCliM – world-recognised regional climate projections for New South Wales and its regions.
If you have trouble finding information or you feel that certain information should be made available free of charge, please contact our Information Access and Privacy team on 02 8275 1095 or email gipa@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
The GIPA Act authorises the release of government information in response to an informal request unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.
If we have not freely published the information you seek as ‘open access information’, we may be able to release it to you without the need for a formal access application.
We generally provide the following types of information in response to an informal request:
- your personal information
- copies of correspondence sent to us by you
- applications and supporting documents sent to us by you
- customer transaction database notes that contain only personal information about you
- documents that may have already been made public in some other way
- information that would not raise any potential public interest or privacy concerns.
This form of release does not require a fee or an application form. Information may be released with deletions, released subject to reasonable conditions, or released in a preferred form. We may impose conditions on the use or disclosure of information that is provided in response to an informal request.
Requests for personal information can also be made under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Please see our Privacy Management Plan for more information.
If you would like to make an informal request for information, please contact our Information Access and Privacy team on 02 8275 1095 or email gipa@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
If the information you are looking for is not published by us or available by informal request, you may wish to make a formal access application in writing under the GIPA Act.
Access applications are subject to application fees and processing charges. We will not release information if there is an overriding public interest against its disclosure.
Your access application must include the following 5 things:
- be in writing and addressed to the agency
- clearly state you are requesting information under the GIPA Act
- include the $30 application fee
- include your name and an email address or return postal address for correspondence in connection with the application
- include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.
If your application does not meet the above requirements, it will be invalid and the application will not be processed. However, to help you make a valid application, we will contact you to provide advice and assistance.
You can make a formal application by completing a GIPA application form.
If you need help to submit your application, please contact our Information Access and Privacy team on 02 8275 1095 or email gipa@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
Formal access application fees and charges
Apart from the $30 application fee, the GIPA Act allows the department to impose a charge of $30 per hour to process an application. The application fee counts towards the first hour of processing.
In processing a formal access application, the department is required to ensure that it is dealt with efficiently and provide access to the information requested at the lowest reasonable cost.
A 50% discount in processing charges will apply if an applicant demonstrates they fall within any of the following categories:
- a member of the public suffering financial hardship
- the information applied for is of special benefit to the public
- the holder of a current Pensioner Concession Card
- full-time students
- non-profit organisations.
Please note that the 50% discount applies only to processing charges and not to the $30 application fee. If you are applying for your own personal information, the department cannot charge for the first 20 hours of processing.
Information which may not be disclosed
An access application cannot be made for information specifically excluded under Schedule 2 of the GIPA Act, such as information that relates to the complaint handling and investigative functions conferred by or under any other Act. That information is ‘excluded information’ under the GIPA Act.
For some categories of information, while an access application may be made there is a presumption against release. The list of categories is set out at Schedule 1 of the GIPA Act. We may also decide that there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of some information.
You can find out more about your right to information on the Information and Privacy Commission NSW website.
Complaints
Anyone can complain to the Information Commissioner about the conduct (including action or inaction) of an agency in the exercise of functions under the GIPA Act, including conduct that is alleged by the person to constitute a contravention of the GIPA Act.
A complaint may be made:
- by post to PO Box 7011, Sydney NSW 2001
- by email to ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au.
For more information on complaints about an agency’s conduct, visit the Information and Privacy Commission NSW website.
Information access contacts
You can contact our department's Information Access and Privacy team using the details below.
For enquiries that are not related to information access, please refer to our home page for contact details.