Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
New South Wales approves Great Koala National Park
New South Wales has passed a law to create the Great Koala National Park in Australia’s Mid North Coast region.
The park will add 178,000 hectares of state forests and other government land to existing national parks, creating a protected area of 475,000 hectares.
It is intended to protect about 12,000 koalas and more than 100 other threatened plant and animal species.
Koalas were declared endangered in New South Wales in 2022, after habitat loss, disease and climate stress contributed to sharp declines.
The park aims to safeguard wildlife and forests, following more than a decade of campaigning by conservation and community groups.
The Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti people will continue to guide its management, and eight Aboriginal rangers are to be employed through community-controlled organisations.
Long-term funding will rely largely on carbon credits, a plan that conservationists have criticized; attempts to amend the scheme were rejected in parliament.
The park is expected to open before the end of 2026.
New South Wales parliament passed legislation to create the Great Koala National Park on Oct. 23.
The park will add 178,000 hectares of state forests and other government land to the existing national park estate.
The resulting protected area will span 475,000 hectares and is intended to protect 12,000 koalas and more than 100 other threatened species.
The park is slated to open before the end of 2026.
Its long-term funding will rely largely on carbon credits, a plan that has drawn criticism.
- Who
- New South Wales parliament approved the park legislation. Conservation and community groups campaigned for its creation.
- What
- Legislation was passed to create the Great Koala National Park, adding state forests and other government land to the national park estate.
- When
- The legislation passed on Oct. 23. The park is slated to open before the end of 2026.
- Where
- The Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
- Why
- The park is intended to protect koalas, forests and other threatened species. It was also a 2023 election promise by Australia’s Labor Party.
Conservationists concerned about carbon-credit funding
New South Wales government
Funding
Conservationists concerned about carbon-credit funding
Conservationists have raised concerns about relying on carbon trading for long-term funding and public opposition to the approach.
New South Wales government
The government plans to rely largely on Australian Carbon Credit Units generated under its Improved Native Forest Management method.
Conservation and community groups campaigned for the Great Koala National Park.
NSW Premier Chris Minns tabled a bill proposing the park’s creation.
NSW parliament passed legislation to create the park.
The park is slated to open.
- Land added
- 178,000 hectares (440,000 acres)
- Protected area
- 475,000 hectares (1.2 million acres)
- Koalas
- 12,000
- Other threatened species
- More than 100 fauna and flora species
- Establishment funding
- AU$140 million ($98.5 million)
- Planned opening
- Before the end of 2026
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What people are saying
This park will protect our precious Australian wildlife and boost tourism for the region for generations,
This is a historic win for koalas, forests and the communities who have been fighting for their protection.
great achievement