Crown land comprises approximately half of all land in New South Wales. Some of this land is allocated to public uses such as national parks, state forests, schools, hospitals, sporting, camping and recreation areas, as well as lands which are managed and protected for their environmental importance. This leaves other significant portions of Crown land that can be used in a number of ways, including leasing for commercial or agricultural purposes, through to land development and sale.

Crown land management

The Department of Lands is responsible for the sustainable and commercial management of Crown land. Lands administers an area of approximately 37.1 million hectares (this includes the 3 nautical mile zone and most of the western division of NSW). The Department is responsible for the professional management of some 72,600 licences and permits state wide, along with 14,800 leases.

Lands also manages the development, marketing and sales of Crown lands not required for public purposes. Various land uses are authorised by the Department of Lands including: waterfront occupations; commercial; grazing and agriculture; residential; sporting; community purposes; tourism; and industrial. It manages these Crown lands through a variety of methods such as licensing, leasing, sale and disposal of surplus Crown and other State-owned lands. Lands also provides land information/status and land accounts services as well as a map and products sale centre.