The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that the mining industry meets contemporary standards for environmental management. The Environmental Sustainability Branch is uniquely placed within NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Mineral Resources to advance the standard of environmental management in exploration and mining.

Our responsibilities include:

• working with and facilitating communication between government, the mining industry and the community;
• reviewing environmental impact assessments for proposed exploration and mining activities;
• drafting title conditions relating to environmental management;
• reviewing and approving rehabilitation standards and plans proposed by mining proponents;
• setting and reviewing security deposits which are held to ensure effective rehabilitation;
• investigating community complaints and certain environmental incidents;
• supervising mine closures and determining when rehabilitation has achieved an acceptable standard.

The Environmental Sustainability Branch encourages the adoption of best practice in mining.

All mines are required to document plans detailing how they will minimise impacts on the environment and undertake progressive and effective rehabilitation of disturbed land.

The Environmental Sustainability Branch uses an integrated regulatory approach to mine planning, environmental management and audits/inspections to achieve positive environmental outcomes and meet rehabilitation objectives.