The Department of Lands Planning and the Environment works with the community to conserve and promote the Territory's natural and cultural heritage. It ensures that the Heritage Act is administered effectively, supports the Heritage Council, assists the owners of heritage places, promotes heritage and encourages good conservation practice, and oversees the Conservation Program for NT Government-owned heritage assets.
Since 1981 when the first jointly managed park, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, was established the Parks and Wildlife Service has entered into joint management arrangements with indigenous Territorians in several parks and reserves. The aim being to protect the biological diversity of the parks whilst still serving visitor and community needs for education and enjoyment.
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory's (MAGNT) Maritime Gallery houses the largest museum collection of Southeast Asian historic boats and ethnographic watercraft in Australia. The Gallery has a permanent display of 21 boats and canoes.
Department of Natural Resources Environment and The Arts (NRETA) has the following grants programs: Regional Museums Grant Support Program, Arts Grants Program, NT Film Grants Program, Heritage Grants, Natural Heritage Trust and Environment Grants.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts is the lead agency in relation to the Natural Heritage Trust in the Northern Territory, including receipt and distribution of Natural Heritage Trust funding. The community programs branch in the Natural Resource Management Division of this Department administers the Trust in the NT, provides support to community groups, industry and government who receive Natural Heritage Trust funding.
The Northern Territory Planning Commission will play an important role in ensuring that the planning system in the Northern Territory facilitates sustainable economic growth, protects environmental, cultural and heritage assets and connects people and place. The Commission's primary role is to develop strategic plans and planning policies. The Commission will undertake community consultation in preparing integrated strategic plans for regions, towns and centres. As a secondary role, the Commission will advise on significant development proposals. These proposals include projects that have a significant impact on the strategic planning of the Territory, the natural environment or existing amenity.
Within the Northern Territory, the allocation of an official name to a place (be it a locality, suburb, town, community, road, residential park, cemetery, building or natural feature) is the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government under the Place Names Act which allows the Place Names Committee for the Northern Territory to make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Lands for the naming of a place.
Find information on Managing Northern Territory Shipwrecks, Shipwrecks and the law, The Northern Territory Shipwreck Database, Historical Shipwreck Profiles and Diving around NT Shipwrecks.