On 23 December 1971, a new department called the
Department of Environment and Conservation was created by the amalgamation of the
Museum Department and the
State Planning Office which was part of the
Department of the Premier and of Development. On 18 December 1975, the
Department of Environment and Conservation was renamed as the
Department for the Environment following a merger with the
Botanic Garden Department. On 11 May 1981, the
Department for the Environment and the
Department of Urban and Regional Affairs were merged with the
Department of Environment and Planning which was created on 7 August 1980 when it only consisted of the office of its first permanent head. On 8 October 1992, the Department of Environment and Planning was abolished on 8 October 1992 and its parts were distributed to new entities including the
Department of Environment and Land Management which included the entirety of the former
Department of Lands which was also abolished on 8 October 1992. On 1 October 1993, the
Department of Environment and Land Management was renamed as the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. On 23 October 1997, the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources was abolished and replaced in part by the
Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs which also included “employees” of other abolished “Administrative Units” such as the
Department of State Aboriginal Affairs and the
Department of Mines and Energy. In 1999, the
Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs became the
Department for Environment and Heritage. On 1 July 2010, the
Department for Environment and Heritage was renamed for the second time as the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. On 1 July 2012, the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources became the
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) after acquiring the roles and responsibilities of the former
Department of Water. This created the current (2024) incarnation of the department. it was given its present name on 22 March 2018. Following the
Liberal Party's victory in the
2018 state election, the department was renamed as the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) on 2 March 2018. ==People==