Strategic Plan 2009-12
Commissioners and executives profile
NRC Governance Policy
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In a field characterised by complexity and constant change, the NRC’s work provides the best possible assurance that the State’s investments in NRM will generate the best possible outcomes for our environment and communities.
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The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) provides credible, independent advice to the NSW Government on managing the state’s natural resources in an integrated manner to maintain landscapes that are resilient, function effectively, and support environmental, economic, social and cultural values.
The NRC reports to the Premier, reflecting its independent nature.
The Strategic Plan 2009-12 outlines the direction of the NRC for the next four years.
Commissioners and executives profile
The NSW Government has created a regional model for natural resource management (NRM) to help ensure healthy rivers, productive soils, diverse native species and thriving communities throughout our state. Implementation of this model is an ambitious and long-term reform agenda which requires integrated action by all communities, industry and governments.
In 2005, the NRC developed and recommended a Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management (the Standard) and state-wide Targets for NRM. The Government adopted the Standard and Targets, and the Targets now form Priority E4 of the State Plan. In 2008, we began an ongoing program of audits to assess whether Catchment Action Plans are being implemented effectively, in compliance with the Standard and Targets.
Together, the Standard, Targets, and audit support flexible and innovative regional decision-making, and build consistency, rigour and accountability for NRM. 2010 marks five years of implementation of the Standard and Targets. To drive continual improvement the NRC will undertake a mid term review of the Standard, Targets and Catchment Action Plans and the regional model.
We will contribute to achieving Priority E4 of the State Plan (“Better outcomes for native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways”) by advising the Government on:
- the natural resource policy and management settings required to improve the resilience of landscapes
- how to improve performance towards the state-wide targets and the effective implementation of Catchment Action Plans.
The current governance system of the NRC is mapped in the NRC Governance Policy.
The Commissioner exercises the functions of the Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 and other relevant legislation, and provides credible, independent advice to the Government.
The Assistant Commissioner advises and supports the Commissioner in providing advice to the Government. The Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner are widely regarded as leading experts in the fields of agriculture, sustainable development, environmental education, environmental science and policy.
The Executive Director is primarily responsible for leading the implementation and review of the NRC strategies in accordance with the Standard.
We manage our work adaptively, using the Standard to deal with uncertainty in our knowledge of natural systems, and the complexity of interactions between biophysical landscape processes and the societies, economies and natural systems that depend on them. To best understand the nature of the issues we deal with, and develop credible and independent advice, we use transparent consultation and collaboration approaches, and access the best-available knowledge across a variety of fields.
All NRC reports are made publicly available.
Organisational structure