NSW Land Changes for Marramarra National Park and New Rules for Water Operator Changes

Environment and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

13 Nov 2025: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

biodiversity energy infrastructure environmental protection national parks water management wilderness areas wildlife conservation

Introduced by: The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

certain land in Marramarra National Park is de-reserved — it loses its status as reserved national park land
the Audit and Compliance Committee under the National Parks and Wildlife Act is restricted to only overseeing the Environment Secretary's compliance -- its broader functions are removed
IPART cannot approve the substitution of one water operator or retailer for another in a licensed scheme without the existing operator's or retailer's consent
outdated references to renamed or abolished government departments and positions across multiple Acts are updated

News articles and press releases

Second Reading Speech, Environment and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE, Minister for Climate Change — 2025-11-13

The bill proposes two specific amendments to the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, an amendment to the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 and amendments in the nature of statute law revision to a number of Acts and statutory rules administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water [DCCEEW], together with a consequential amendment to the Interpretation Act 1987. The first part of the bill amends the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 to remove duplication of audit responsibilities for national parks. Section 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires an audit and compliance committee to oversee the secretary's obligations. The committee includes independent experts and a representative of the advisory council, ensuring strong oversight of national park management.