The Heritage Branch, NSW Department of Planning 

The Heritage Branch, Department of Planning is the New South Wales (NSW) agency responsible for administering the historic shipwreck and relics provisions of the NSW Heritage Act, 1977 (within State Waters of NSW).

The Director of the Heritage Branch is the NSW Delegate for day-to-day administration of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act, 1976 in NSW's coastal waters. The Heritage Branch receives Commonwealth funding to implement administrative functions and key priorities of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Program under the HSA 1976.

The NSW Historic Shipwrecks Program employs maritime archaeologists and leads by example in the research, documentation, management, protection and interpretation of underwater cultural heritage.

The Heritage Branch works closely with community groups, key partners, and individuals. People involved in recreational diving and fishing have located over 250 of the State's shipwrecks.

Heritage Branch initiatives include:

• the popular Shipwreck Atlas of New South Wales (out of print)
• the NSW section of the National Historic Shipwrecks Database,
• a range of educational publications, lectures and displays,
• volunteer community Wreck Survey Projects and
• guidelines for developing shipwreck interpretive signs

The Heritage Branch also plays a key advisory and approvals role in development projects that may affect underwater heritage sites (such as marina construction, dredging, offshore telecommunications and pipleine deployment).