What we do

The department is responsible for approximately half of NSW land (valued at over $6.1 billion) and manages some of the most iconic and diverse public land through the Crown reserve system.

The 35,000 Crown reserves provide many of the state’s town squares and local parks, state heritage sites, buildings, community halls, nature reserves, coastal lands, waterway corridors, sporting grounds, racetracks, showgrounds, caravan parks, camping areas, travelling stock routes, rest areas, walking tracks, commons, community and government infrastructure and facilities. Hyde Park and Bondi Beach in Sydney are two famous examples of the NSW Crown reserve system at work.

The department manages around 54,000 leases and licences enabling the use of Crown land across the state for a range of commercial, agricultural, industrial, community, residential and private uses.

The department also manages the development, marketing and sale of Crown lands not required for public purposes.

The department investigates and assesses Aboriginal land claims across the state under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983. The Crown estate is managed in accordance with Commonwealth Native Title legislation.

1. 

   Crown Land Commissioner

   The NSW Crown Land Commissioner (the Commissioner) provides independent advice to Crown land users, stakeholders, the community and Government regarding the management of Crown land.

2. 

   Land Negotiation Program Outcomes

   In the largest land transfer of this type in NSW’s history, Orange will be the first region to have Crown land transferred from the State to its local council and the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council through a negotiated outcome.

3. 

   How we work

   We manage and sustain public land across the state taking into consideration the environmental, social, cultural heritage and economic impacts.

4. 

   Types of Crown land

   Crown reserves are land set aside on behalf of the community for a wide range of public purposes.

5. 

   Find Crown land on a map

   We provide digital maps of the Crown land estate in the NSW Government Property Index provided by the ePlanning Portal.

6. 

   Land management & compliance

   Includes natural assets, weed and pest control, revegetation projects, illegal dumping clean up, waterways, recreational access, sediment and erosion control.

7. 

   Crown land searches

   We provide land status and information services to make sure everyone has the ability to protect the land.

8. 

   Legislation & policies

   The new legislative framework will ensure that the Crown land continues to support and generate significant social, environmental and cultural benefits.

9. 

   Fees & forms

   For information on all fees and charges or forms and publications for Crown land.

10. 

    Guidelines, Fact Sheets and FAQs

    Find the relevant guidelines, fact sheets and faqs by topic.

11. 

    Showground stimulus funding program

    Information for Showground Managers on $25 million Stimulus program to fund maintenance and improvement works at showgrounds around the state.

12. 

    Contact Crown land

    Contact information for Crown land services and resources.