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.