Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority FAQ
What is the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998?
What is a statutory authority?
How long has Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority existed?
Does the NSW Government fund Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
What is the role of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
Which government minister is responsible for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
What is the role of the board?
How does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority formulate policies?
What sort of policies does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority develop?
What does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority do?
Who appoints people to the Board and how long can someone be a board member?
What is the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998?
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority was formed on 1 February 1999 under the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998. The Act combined the functions of the former Sydney Cove Authority and City West Development Corporation. The Act also provided for the Darling Harbour Authority's amalgamation with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority on 1 January 2001.
What is a statutory authority?
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is a NSW Statutory Authority. Statutory authorities have the capacity to make legally enforceable decisions and regulations but are subject to the control and direction of a government department. In this instance, the Authority is subject to the control and direction of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
How long has Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority existed?
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority was formed in 1999 under the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998 to consolidate the work and functions of City West Development Corporation, Darling Harbour Authority and Sydney Cove Authority.
Does the NSW Government fund Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
Under the Act, the organisation is responsible for balancing community, cultural, tourism, heritage and commercial objectives. It is not centrally funded by NSW Treasury, but funds its own operations principally from rental and other property income.
The Authority uses this income to provide around $21 million in community service obligations annually with an additional $10 million on property/heritage related capital works each year, as well as funding the usual costs associated with being a property owner and manager.
What is the role of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
The main role of the Authority includes place management, heritage conservation and urban renewal.
Which NSW Government minister is responsible for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority?
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.
What is the role of the Board?
The Board meets monthly to oversee the Authority's policies, management and performance. It sets strategic direction for the organisation and ensures compliance with statutory requirements.
How does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority formulate policies?
The Authority works closely with communities and people affected by the policy being developed. We have highly trained staff skilled in policy development and recruit specialists for particular policy development when needed. We also work closely with staff from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to ensure compliance with broader legislation and relevant documentation.
What sort of policies does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority develop?
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority develops policies to govern the way it interacts with its key stakeholders. These policies, covering a wide range of matters, articulate the Foreshore Authority's response to government and community needs.
They include issues such as customer service, disabled access, privacy management and community consultation along with a Code of Ethics to guide standards of behaviour required by its staff. There are also a number of policies that relate to more specific areas of responsibility such as signage, outdoor seating, and telecommunications.
What does Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority do?
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority owns and manages some of the State's most significant assets, including Sydney's heritage and cultural precincts at The Rocks and Darling Harbour.
The Authority manages significant commercial and retail leases, provides security, cleaning, building maintenance and other asset management services, and cares for the public domain and 140 heritage items.
The Authority also operates marketing and visitor services and produces significant events in The Rocks and Darling Harbour each year. Between them, the precincts attract around 39 million visitors annually.
Its objectives and functions are derived from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998 and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Regulations 1999. It was formed in 1999 to replace a number of former organisations to consolidate Sydney Harbour foreshore planning and management.
Who appoints people to the Board and how long can someone be a board member?
The Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Director General of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure are statutory appointments to the Board as spelt out in the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Act 1998.
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure selects a maximum of five additional people, one of whom is appointed as Chairperson.
