The Australian Government, as a party to the World Heritage Convention, works in cooperation with the NSW Government (and other states) to ensure management of World Heritage is consistent with the Convention. It also administers the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, under which World Heritage is a matter of national environmental significance.
World Heritage advisory committees in New South Wales advise managing agencies and government ministers responsible for World Heritage on matters relating to the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of World Heritage values. This includes strategic policies in relation to Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention. The committees may also be asked to consider and provide advice on issues that may have a significant impact on the area or on natural and cultural-heritage conservation.
The chairs of the committees are jointly appointed by the NSW and Australian Government ministers responsible for World Heritage. Committee members are appointed by the state minister responsible for World Heritage.
Meetings
Advisory committees meet at least 3 times a year. Up to 2 observers from each of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water may be present at advisory committee meetings.
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
There are 2 advisory committees for the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia:
- the Community Advisory Committee
- the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property advisory committees provide advice to relevant government ministers and management agencies.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property includes reserves in New South Wales and Queensland. Members of advisory committees are appointed by New South Wales and Queensland environment ministers. Chairs of the advisory committees are jointly appointed by environment ministers for the New South Wales, Queensland and Australian Governments.
Advisory committees meet in Brisbane, with one on-site visit each year.
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Community Advisory Committee has an independent chair and 10 members who represent traditional owners, local authorities, community interest groups and other stakeholders:
- Five members represent stakeholder interests within the New South Wales portion of Gondwana and are nominated through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regional advisory committees.
- Five members represent stakeholder interests within the Queensland portion of Gondwana Rainforests and are selected through an expression-of-interest process.
The Chair of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee is also a member of the Community Advisory Committee.
Current members of the Community Advisory Committee, with the fields they represent, are as follows.
Chair
Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist)
Members
- Mr Paul Donatiu (Queensland, recreation)
- Mr Bryan Johnston (NSW, commercial tourism/NPWS Northern Tablelands Regional Advisory Committee)
- Mr Innes Larkin (Queensland, commercial tourism)
- Mr Peter Ogilvie (Queensland, conservation)
- Ms Jan Olley (NSW, recreation/NPWS Northern Rivers Regional Advisory Committee)
- Ms Carmel Peacock (NSW, local government)
- Mr Terry Tibbett (NSW, Aboriginal people/NPWS North Coast Regional Advisory Committee)
- Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)
- vacant (Queensland, Aboriginal member).
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee has an independent Chair and 8 members who represent areas of technical and scientific expertise. The Chair of the Community Advisory Committee is also a member of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
Current members of the technical and scientific advisory committee, with the areas they represent, are as follows.
Chair
Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)
Members
- Professor Stephen Gale (geomorphology)
- Ms Liz Gould (community engagement in natural-resource management)
- Dr Aila Keto (World Heritage assessment and ecological restoration)
- Dr Melinda Laidlaw (plant-community ecology)
- Professor Michael Mahoney (threatened species management and conservation biology)
- Dr Bill McDonald (biogeography, ecology and plant identification)
- Dr Ross Peacock (fire ecology and citizen science)
- Professor Betty Weiler (visitor management, interpretation and sustainable tourism)
- Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist).
Committee meetings are also attended by representatives of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Department of Science, Environment and Innovation, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and a representative from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Committee members are reimbursed for travel expenses and sitting fees are paid to the chairs.
The NSW Government is inviting applications for the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Advisory Committee.
Applications are now open for:
- an independent chair
- representatives of the Darkinjung, Dharawal, Dharug, Wiradjuri and Wonnarua language groups
- three scientific representatives.
The Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Advisory Committee gives advice to relevant agencies and ministers on the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage property.
The committee members represent the interests of stakeholders including Traditional Custodians from the Darkinjung, Dharawal, Dharug, Gundungurra, Wiradjuri and Wonnarua language groups.
Separate nomination processes will identify representatives from the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement Consultative Committee, local government and Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute.
Members are appointed by the state minister responsible for World Heritage. The Chair is jointly appointed by NSW and Australian government ministers responsible for World Heritage.
The Greater Blue Mountains Area Advisory Committee has 3 general meetings per year held around the Greater Blue Mountains.
Applications close Monday 16 June 2025.
For more information and application details, please email gbm.worldheritage@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Willandra Lakes Region
There are 3 groups that provide advice on the management of this World Heritage property:
- Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee
- Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Aboriginal Advisory Group
- Willandra Landholders Group.
The groups work together to manage the property. All elected and appointed members of the Aboriginal Advisory Group are members of the Advisory Committee, and they meet 3 times a year on or near the World Heritage property. The Willandra Landholders Group meets as required.
The Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee provides advice to relevant government ministers and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on the management of the property. It provides advice to other government agencies through the intergovernmental Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Management Committee on matters relating to the property's World Heritage values.
The committee has 18 members. The committee’s terms of reference specify that the committee Chair should be an independent, non-government person with no current direct financial or political interest in the management of the Willandra Lakes Region.
The committee members represent relevant interest groups, stakeholders, scientific disciplines and rights-holders. Members of the committee are:
- Mike Williams (Independent Chair)
- Warren Clark (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
- Ivan Johnston (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
- Kathy Potter (Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corp representative)
- Patricia Winch (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
- Verna Eade (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
- Tanya Charles (Mutthi Mutthi representative pending appointment)
- Joan Slade (Ngiyampaa representative)
- Lawrence Clarke (Ngiyampaa representative)
- Keith Hampton (Ngiyampaa representative)
- Tom Wakefield (southern landholder representative)
- Wade Griffiths (northern landholder representative)
- Vacant (Local government))
- Professor Tim Denham (science representative)
- A/Professor Nicola Stern (science representative)
- Dr Nathan Jankowski (science representative)
- Sarah Hope (tourism expert)
- Marie Russell (NPWS West Branch Regional Advisory Committee).
Landholders are nominated by the Willandra Landholders Group to represent the northern and southern landholder clusters in the area.
Representatives of local government are nominated by their local government and rotate each term between Balranald and Wentworth Shires. The relevant National Parks and Wildlife Service regional advisory committee members are nominated by their committee.
Tourism and scientific community committee members are appointed by the NSW Minister for the Environment, following a public call for nominations.
All 9 elected members of the Aboriginal Advisory Group are appointed by the NSW Minister for the Environment to the World Heritage Advisory Committee.
The Willandra Lakes Region Aboriginal Advisory Group provides advice to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The group is in its third term.
The Aboriginal Advisory Group has 9 members. The members are elected from each of the 3 Aboriginal peoples associated with the World Heritage property – the Barkandji/Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples:
- The Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples elect 3 members each.
- The Barkandji/Paakantyi people elect 2 members.
- The third member is appointed by the Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation to represent their interests.
All members of the Aboriginal Advisory Group also sit on the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee.
The elected and then appointed members are also able to nominate a member's representative to attend meetings on their behalf. This position is appointed by a National Parks and Wildlife Service Executive Director.
The term is 3 years, and members can be re-elected as per their terms of reference:
- Warren Clark (Chair - Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
- Ivan Johnston (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
- Kathy Potter (Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corp representative)
- Patricia Winch (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
- Verna Eade (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
- Tanya Charles (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
- Joan Slade (Ngiyampaa representative)
- Lawrence Clarke (Ngiyampaa representative)
- Keith Hampton (Ngiyampaa representative).
Aboriginal Advisory Group report
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this report may contain images and names of deceased persons.
The Willandra Landholders Group meets with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to discuss matters relating to the management of the World Heritage property. The group is made up of all leaseholders of pastoral properties within the World Heritage property.
There are 13 stations currently within the Willandra Lakes Region:
- Mulurulu
- Spring Hill
- Pan Ban
- Gol Gol
- Baymore
- Turlee
- Top Hut
- Marma
- Chibnalwood
- Arumpo
- Banoon
- Guthul
- Prungle.
Contact us
Greater Blue Mountains Area
Email: gbm.worldheritage@environment.nsw.gov.au
Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Email: gondwana@environment.nsw.gov.au
Willandra Lakes Region
Email: npws.willandralakes@environment.nsw.gov.au