This report will analyse the results of the 2022–23 financial statement audits of the Regional NSW cluster and group findings around key areas of service delivery. It will comment on financial reporting and performance, key accounting issues, and internal controls and governance findings.

This report will analyse the results of the 2022–23 financial statement audits of the Planning and Environment cluster and group findings around key areas of service delivery. It will comment on financial reporting and performance, key accounting issues, and internal controls and governance findings.

There are 1,043 species and 115 ecological communities that are listed as threatened in New South Wales under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, including 78 species declared extinct. These numbers continue to rise, and the 2019–20 bushfires exacerbated this. Under the Act, the Department of Planning and Environment is responsible for implementing a biodiversity conservation program that maximises the security of threatened species and ecological co

The NSW Government has committed more than $400 million over four years to bring a faster and more reliable digital network to rural and regional New South Wales. The Regional Digital Connectivity Program (RDCP) was set up to deliver families and businesses in regional NSW better access to mobile, internet and digital services, aiming to address the divide between metropolitan centres and regional NSW. The program is investing in infrastructure, emerging

This audit assessed how effectively the Department of Planning and Environment (Heritage NSW) is overseeing and administering heritage assets of state significance. Heritage that is rare, exceptional or outstanding to New South Wales may be listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977. This provides assets with legal recognition and protection. Places, buildings, works, relics, objects and precincts can be l

What this report is about The Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) is a state-owned corporation that manages over two million hectares of public native forests and plantations supplying timber to sawmills across NSW. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is responsible for regulating the native forestry industry in NSW. FCNSW must comply with Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs), which set out rules for how timber harvesting may oc

What this report is about This report draws together the financial impact of natural disasters on agencies integral to the response and impact of natural disasters during 2021–22. What we found Over the 2021–22 financial year $1.4 billion from a budget of $1.9 billion was spent by the NSW Government in response to natural disasters. Total expenses were less than the budget due to underspend in the following areas: clean-up assistance, including coun

The Office of Local Government (OLG) in the Department of Planning and Environment is responsible for strengthening the local government sector, including through its regulatory functions. This audit assessed whether the OLG is effectively monitoring and regulating the sector under the Local Government Act 1993. The audit covered: the effectiveness of departmental arrangements for the OLG to undertake its regulatory functions

This audit assessed the effectiveness of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and local councils in planning and managing equipment for bushfire prevention, mitigation, and suppression. What we found The RFS has focused its fleet development activity on modernising and improving the safety of its firefighting fleet, and on the purchase of new firefighting aircraft. There is limited evidence that the RFS has undertaken strategic f

The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) program was created after the 2019–20 bushfires, and commits $541.8 million to bushfire affected areas in New South Wales. It is co-funded by the Commonwealth and NSW governments. This audit assessed how effectively the Department of Regional NSW (the department) and Resilience NSW administered rounds one and two of the BLER program. These rounds were: Round one: early co-funding, spl