A development application (DA) is a formal application for development that requires consent under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. It is usually lodged with the local council for processing and determination, and consists of standard application forms, supporting technical reports and plans.  The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE)’s ‘Development Assessment Best Practice Guide' describes the development assessment pr

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is responsible for preventing, mitigating, and suppressing fires in rural fire districts and is the lead combat agency for bush and grass fires in the State. The NSW RFS works alongside local councils, government agencies, and other statutory fire authorities to coordinate and oversee bushfire prevention. Local councils are responsible for establishing rural fire brigades, preparing bushfire risk managemen

What the report is about Results of the local government sector council financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2021. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued for 126 councils, 13 joint organisation audits and nine county councils in 2020–21.  A qualified audit opinion was issued for Central Coast Council who was unable to provide evidence to support the carrying value of $5.5 billion of roads, bridges, footpaths, bulk earth

What the report is about The ePlanning program is an initiative of the Department of Planning and Environment (the department) to deliver a digital planning service for New South Wales through the NSW planning portal (the portal). Using the portal, relevant planning activities can be carried out online, including all stages of development applications. The portal has been developed under three separate business cases in 2013, 2014 and 2020. In late 2

What the report is about This report draws together the financial impact of COVID-19 on the agencies integral to responses across the state government sector of New South Wales. What we found Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit NSW in January 2020, and until 30 June 2021, $7.5 billion was spent by state government agencies for health and economic stimulus. The response was largely funded by borrowings. The key areas of spending since the start of COVID-1

What the report is about The results of the Transport cluster agencies’ financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2021. What we found Unmodified financial statement audit opinions were issued for all Transport cluster agencies. Resolution of issues delayed signing the Transport Asset Holding Entity of NSW (TAHE) until 24 December 2021. Matters relating to TAHE are also reported in the report on State Finances 2021. Emphasis of Matter - TA

What the report is about The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) (the Act) provides land rights over certain Crown land for Aboriginal Land Councils in NSW. If a claim is made over Crown land (land owned and managed by government) and meets other criteria under the Act, ownership of that land is to be transferred to the Aboriginal Land Council. This process is intended to provide compensation for the dispossession of land from Aboriginal people in N

What the report is about The results of Treasury cluster agencies' financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2021. The results of the audit of the NSW Government's consolidated Total State Sector Accounts (TSSA), which are prepared by NSW Treasury, are reported separately in our report on State Finances 2021. What we found Unmodified audit opinions were issued for all Treasury cluster agencies. The number of identified monetary misstatemen

What the report is about The report focuses on how effectively the Department of Customer Service (DCS) and Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) led reforms addressing the unsafe use of combustible external cladding on existing residential and public buildings. Nine local councils were included in the audit because they have responsibilities and powers needed to implement the NSW Government’s reforms. What we found After the June 2017 Grenfel

What the report is about This audit assessed whether the NSW Police Force has effective systems, processes, resources, and capability to respond to domestic and family violence events in New South Wales. What we found The NSW Police Force has almost doubled its domestic violence specialist workforce in the past five years and is conducting higher levels of risk monitoring to check that frontline police comply with domestic and family violence policing