New South Wales act

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974

In ForceNSW

Jurisdiction

New South Wales

Act Number

80 of 1974

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

8/10 complexity

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 protects and manages special natural and cultural places in New South Wales, Australia. It creates different types of protected areas:

National parks: Big areas to conserve wildlife, plants, landscapes, and cultural sites while letting people visit sustainably.
Nature reserves: Focused mainly on protecting animals, plants, and ecosystems with less emphasis on tourism.
Historic sites: Places important for history, culture, or science.
State conservation areas, regional parks, karst conservation reserves (caves and limestone areas), and Aboriginal areas: Each has its own rules balancing conservation, public use, and (for Aboriginal areas) cultural connections for Aboriginal people.

The law sets up the National Parks and Wildlife Service to run these areas, create management plans, protect threatened species and Aboriginal objects (like tools or art from before European settlement), and enforce rules. It allows for partnerships with Aboriginal communities, including handing back some lands for co-management. It also controls activities like mining, logging, and harming wildlife or plants, with permits needed for some actions and big fines or jail for breaking the rules.

This matters because it helps preserve unique Australian environments, supports tourism and education, respects Aboriginal heritage, and ensures these places stay healthy for future generations. It works alongside other laws on biodiversity and planning.

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Deep Dive

1,762 words · generated 24/04/2026

What it does

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) (the Act) establishes the legal framework for the creation, management, and protection of reserved lands in New South Wales. Its core function is to identify, conserve, and manage areas of outstanding natural, cultural, and ecological value while providing for sustainable public appreciation and use. This is achieved through a tiered system of reservations, each with tailored management principles set out in Part 4, Division 2.

At its foundation, the Act declares its objects in s 2A: the conservation of nature (including habitats, biodiversity at community, species, and genetic levels, landforms, and wilderness), the conservation of cultural values (including Aboriginal significance, social value, and historic or scientific features), fostering public appreciation, and managing reserved lands according to their specific principles. These objects must be pursued by applying the principles of ecologically sustainable development (defined by reference to s 6(2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991) and giving effect to the public interest in protecting reserved values (s 2A(3)).

The Act binds the Crown in all capacities (s 3) and repeals earlier legislation while preserving transitional arrangements (s 4 and Schedule 3). Central to its operation is the National Parks and Wildlife Service (the Service), constituted under s 6 as comprising the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the relevant departmental division, and personnel under arrangements made pursuant to s 11. The Secretary's functions (ss 7–8) include investigating proposals for new reservations, promoting education and research, managing reserved lands, protecting fauna and flora, and entering conservation agreements. The Service itself carries out works directed by the Minister (s 12), encompassing conservation, research, education, and sustainable visitor use.

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

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Official source available

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Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.