First department for environment for South Australian government in 1971; name changes before DEW from 2018
After the many changes, the environment and water department (DEW) created by the new South Australian state Liberal government in 2018 survived as a name under the state Labor government elected in 2022.
The South Australian government’s first environment department was formed in December 1971 – with a string of name changes and links to other departments to follow.
The department of environment and conservation was created by amalgamating the museum department and the state planning office that had been part of the department of the premier and of development. It was renamed the environment and conservation department in 1975 after a merger with the botanic garden department.
More changes followed in 1981 when the environment department and the urban and regional affairs department were merged as the department of environment and planning in 1980. In 1992, the environment and planning department was abolished and its parts were distributed to new entities including the environment and land management department that included the entire lands department. also abolished in 1992.
The next year, the environment and land management department was renamed the environment and natural resources department. In 1997, the environment and natural resources department was abolished and replaced in part by the environment, heritage and Aboriginal affairs department that also included employees of other abolished administrative units such as the state Aboriginal affairs department and the mines and energy department. The environment, heritage and Aboriginal affairs department became the environment and heritage department in 1999.
In 2010, the environment and heritage department was renamed for the second time as the environment and natural resources department. Two years later, the environment and natural resources department became the environment, water and natural resources department after taking on the roles and responsibilities of the former water department.
The environment and water department (DEW) created by the new state Liberal government in 2018 survived as a name under the state Labor government elected in 2022.
