Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)
Generic (Western Australia) shoulder patch for Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation staff uniform
|
|
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 July 2006 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Dissolved | 30 June 2013 |
| Superseding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Western Australia |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) |
| Child agency | |
| Website | dec.wa.gov.au |
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was a department of the Government of Western Australia that was responsible for implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations. It was formed on 1 July 2006 by the amalgamation of the Department of Environment (DoE) and the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).
The DEC was separated on 30 June 2013 forming the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) and the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) which both commenced operations on 1 July 2013.
DPaW focuses on nature conservation and the community’s enjoyment and appreciation of Western Australia’s world-class network of national and marine parks.
DER focuses on environmental regulation, approvals and appeals processes, and pollution prevention.
The department was managing more than 285,000 km², including more than nine per cent of WA's land area: its national parks, marine parks, conservation parks, regional parks, State forests and timber reserves, nature reserves, roadside reserves and marine nature reserves. It provided visitor and recreation facilities at a sustainable level for many of these.
It also supported or worked closely with the following authorities:
The total reportable visitation to DEC-managed lands and waters during the 2012-13 financial year was 16.02 million with visitor satisfaction levels of 88%.
4,717 people were registered volunteers with the Department in 2012-13 that helped in a range of projects across the State with 564,350 hours contributed.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) was responsible from 2007 to 2013 for protecting and conserving the State of Western Australia’s environment, this includes managing:
At 30 June 2013, the total area under Department of Environment and Conservation’s care was 28,531,987 ha.
The department’s key responsibilities also included roles in managing, regulating and assessing aspects of the use of the State’s natural resources and biodiversity, including the regulation of native vegetation clearing and pollution control. The department initiated 14 environmental prosecutions during 2012–13 , involving a broad range of charges including pollution, unauthorised clearing of native vegetation and illegal dumping. At 30 June 2013, eight environmental prosecutions remained before the courts. There were an additional 18 pending cases that, subject to the evidentiary standard being met, could result in prosecution or other sanction.
...
Wikipedia