Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

The New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) is a department of the New South Wales Government responsible for effective and sustainable planning and the development of industry to support the growth in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It makes plans based on evidence for the state’s cities and regions, working with the community, business and local government to create places for people in NSW to live, work and spend their leisure time, while ensuring good access to transport and other services like shops and restaurants. The Department is also responsible for the evidence-based assessment of state significant development applications.
History.
The Department was established in April 2019 when the former Department of Planning and Environment and the former Department of Industry were merged. The Department of Planning and Environment and Department of Industry were formed in April 2014 and July 2015 respectively. Most, but not all functions of the two former departments were merged into the new department. The Office of Environment and Heritage and Office of Local Government were also dissolved and merged into the new department.
The department was established with effect from 1 July 2019 and assumed most of the functions of the former Department of Planning and Environment and the former Department of Industry that were dissolved on the same date. On the same date, the Office of Local Government and the Office of Environment and Heritage were abolished and merged into the newly-formed department.
In April 2020, the Regions, Industry, Agriculture and Resources division of DPIE was spun out as the Department of Regional NSW, a separate government department.
Structure.
The Department is the lead agency in the Planning, Industry and Environment cluster, led by Secretary, presently Jim Betts, who reports to the ministers listed below.
Ministers.
The following ministers are responsible for the administration of the department and its agencies:
Ultimately the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.
The Department administers the "Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979" and the "Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016".
Agencies.
The following agencies are included in the Planning, Industry and Environment cluster, administered by the Department: 
Planning.
Prior to the formation of the department, the main planning department/authority in New South Wales had various names throughout its history. Starting with the State Planning Authority, which replaced the Cumberland County Council and the Northumberland County Council in December 1963, the predecessors of the DPIE were:
Industry.
The predecessor industry department in New South Wales were:
Environment.
The predecessor environment authority/office/department in New South Wales were:
LGBTIQ+ Network.
In July 2020, it was reported that the NSW Planning Department launched a LGBTIQ+ Network - focusing on jobs and the economy for NSW.
Office relocation to Parramatta.
When it was formed, the Department was initially spread across a number of sites, mostly in the Sydney CBD. In January and February 2020, the Department relocated and consolidated most of its staff in a newly-built tower at 4 Parramatta Square. Shortly after moving into the building, the Department was criticised by unions and some staff for spending $1,246,000 fitting out its new offices with indoor plants. The expenditure was not supported by the Department's Minister, Rob Stokes.