Australian Government Agencies listed here include local, state and federal departments.

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Australian Government Agencies

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Local Government Agencies || State Government Agencies || Federal Government Agencies

Links are ordered from local government through to state, then federal government agencies, focusing on environment, development and tourism departments and resources.

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Local Government Agencies

  • Tweed Shire Council - Agenda 21 updated(PDF will load in frame) In 1997, our local council began working on a program known as "Sustaining the Tweed", developed from the Agenda 21 initiative adopted by countries around the world at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The "Sustaining the Tweed" document is available in PDF only, along with other documents, as well as the current "State of the Environment" report, which is published annually.
  • "The Tweed Council Resource Centre updated is located within the Regional Library in Murwillumbah Civic Centre, Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah NSW. The centre is open on Tuesday afternoons from 3.00pm till 5.00pm"  Book the reource centre or take advantage of the links to council information and fact sheets available for download from the site.
  • Sustainability and The Future of the Tweed 'The Tweed is at the cross roads as to the quality and quantity of development that is allowed to occur if the spectacular scenery and unique biodiversity we cherish so much is to be retained.' Cr. Boyd said. ... [Papers from] a series of five afternoons sessions ... by a group of interesting and eminent speakers, who [delivered] addresses on a wide range of topics relevant and significance for the future of the Tweed, organised to raise awareness and generate debate on sustainability, tourism, the close relationship between water and population growth, marine biology, sugar industry. agriculture, creating prosperous communities, flora and fauna of our rainforests, water reuse, plantation forestry, urbanisation and the environment."
  • Australian Local Government Association - Environment: "Welcome to ALGA's environment policy and research area. It provides information on national policies and programs, resources and case studies that are relevant to local government across Australia." Includes links to the National Local Government Biodiversity Strategy and updates (PDF), as well as fact sheets for each state and territory.
  • See also Big Volcano Government Services Links where available and phone numbers, for local councils, state and federal political representatives.

State Government Agencies

  • New South Wales (NSW)
  • Members of the NSW State Parliament updatedSo you can quickly identify and contact the appropriate local member or Minister
  • Tourism New South Wales The corporate site
  • It's a Living Thing "Welcome to the NSW Environment Service Sector. This site provides a comprehensive listing of Environment online information services." A site primarily consisting of links to other sites, concerned with environment, natural resources, regulations, recreation and assistance to industry, business, communities. If you're looking for anything to do with the NSW Govt. in regards to environment, I'd be surprised if you can't find it here.
  • The Information Centre -A comprehensive resource site for students studying at NSW North Coast Institute of TAFE, with links to electronic and hard copy library resources including external web sites.
  • Marine Parks Authority, NSW An excellent website with most of the information you'll need on current and proposed parks, presented in a fast to download, easy on the eye style. If any information was left out, I didn't miss it. Finally ... a .gov.au web site that "gets it"!
  • NSW Fisheries An excellent site design and information wise, for professional and recreational fishers, and anyone interested in our fish species, waterways and coast. "Over 2 million people go fishing each year in NSW. Our fisheries resources belong to the whole community. To keep them sustainable we're continually conducting research, informing the public about responsible fishing and patrolling the State's waterways." See also Ospreys fouled with fishing tackle
  • NSW NPWS News and Events updatedDownload draft Plans of Management (mostly PDF), annaul reports and other news and events, from New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
  • NSW RACAC "The NSW Forest Agreements program was presided over by RACAC until Dec 2003. After this date RACAC ceased operations with the formation of the NSW Natural Resource Commission and Natural Resource Advisory Council under the NSW Government’s ‘Natural Resource Management Reforms’. For continuity this site remains under the name RACAC, however project management and monitoring of the NSW Forest Agreements is now provided by the NSW Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ." updated
  • NSW Department of Natural Resources (DNR) "is responsible for the sustainable and equitable management of water, soil and native vegetation resources across the state."
  • NSW Waterways Authority "The Waterways Authority is a State Government agency exercising an on-water management role for the NSW Government on behalf of the broader community. Waterways primary responsibilities are to achieve the highest possible standards for the safety of commercial and recreational vessels and other users of NSW navigable waters, the protection of the marine environment, and the provision of waterways infrastructure for vessels."  Excellent site, although dependant on DHTML for navigation, so if you're using any browser except IE, some functionality might be missing. Links to all things waterways in NSW, plus a monthly email newsletter.  If you're into waterbased recreation or a commercial operator on the waterways, check it out!
  • Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) "Delivering greenhouse gas reductions, environmental, economic and social benefits to the NSW community by accelerating the transition to sustainable production and use of energy." Seminars, workshops, newsletters, and incentives to go green energy for home and business, big or small.
  • Queensland (QLD)
  • Tourism Queensland updated"This site features news and media assistance, business tools, industry information and development strategies."
    • Environmental Protection Agency and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service The QLD Govt. generally does an excellent job on it's websites, and this is no exception, although the home page graphics might take time for slower connections.  Fortunately they've included text links if you're impatient like me. You'll be happily clicking the next link and the next link and the nex ... you get the idea!
    • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - Key Issues (GBRMPA). "There are many issues which govern the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. These are issues of industry use, conservation and accessibility and are governed by the Authority's goal: …to provide for the protection, wise use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef in perpetuity… .  To ensure that this goal is achievable, GBRMPA itself has been structured around the four main critical issues identified for the conservation and continued use of the Reef." More ... Visual navigation only may hinder some visitors to this site, which nevertheless provides good reporting of current practice, policy, research and standards. Some people may prefer the text list site map.
  • Tasmiania (TAS)
  • Tasmania: Parks and Wildlife updatedRecreation Guide with extenisve links to a range of information and resources to do with outdoor recreation in Tassie.
  • Western Australia (WA)
  • Western Australian Tourism & Recreation "Western Australia's main tourism attraction is the uniqueness of its natural environment—it's our natural advantage. The unique and unusual plants and animals; Aboriginal culture; bizarre and beautiful landscapes, and vast arid interior are just some of the features available to visitors through a number of premium, nature-based tourism attractions." Excellent site with useful information for visitors and operators alike, including useful PDFs on Nature-based Tourism Research Projects and becoming a licensed operator in managed conservation zones in WA.
    • Recreational fishing in WA. "Bag Limits, Size limits, where you can and can't fish, its all here off this page." Plus conservation, management papers & reports, species, a fishing code of practice and more, everything you want to know.



Federal Government Agencies

  • Parliament of Australia new listing
  • The Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) "Leading Australia's greenhouse action to achieve effective sustainable results. ... is the world's first government agency dedicated to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It was established in 1998 as a separate agency within the environment portfolio to provide a whole of government approach to greenhouse matters." Beautifully designed site with good navigation going to many resources and publications in PDF and html covering everything from community and household, business and industry, energy and transport, through to government, natural resources, and Science and emissions monitoring.
  • Tourism Australia updatedCorporate web site for the Australian tourism industry with news, industry resources, research and statisitics, as well as some nice eye candy if you have a half decent connection.
  • Australian Heritage Commission The Australian Heritage Commission has compiled the Heritage Register since 1976. There are now more than 12 000 places of natural, historic and indigenous significance listed. "The Australian Heritage Commission is a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government administered within the Australian and World Heritage Group of Environment Australia."
  • CSIRO - Tourism Futures "While best known for its agricultural and industrial research, CSIRO, as the premier federal government research organisation, is involved in scientific research for all areas of economic activity in Australia. Until recently research in support of tourism has been incidental. CSIRO is now developing a major initiative in the tourism area." The description belies the huge potential of this initiative in pro-active community driven sustainable development planning at all levels of government.
  • The Department of the Environment and Heritage updatedMy favourite dotgov.au site and the first place to go for legislation, codes, research and publications relating to Commonwealth Environment and Heritage responsibilities.  You'll also find online Approvals & Permits, Payments & Procurement, Programs & Funding and Taxation Concessions information.  Check What's New for info. about current call for comments on draft POMs, environmental assessments, threatened species recovery plans, guidelines, new publications etc.
  • Department of Industry, Tourism & Resources "Tourism contributes substantially to Australia's exports and gross domestic product. The Department promotes a high-quality tourism industry, provides the industry with research and statistics, and administers a number of assistance programs." Well, the site's been updated again and is more attractive aesthetically, but any useful info. they had for individual operators, is gone.
    • Tourism Forecasting Council "Detailed analysis of the forecasts relating to the 2002 to 2012 period. Previous editions of Forecasts are also available at the same address."

See also Australian Political Parties and Development and Environment