Eco-tourism operators hail Great Koala National Park a ‘game-changer’

AFTER announcing the proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) on Sunday, 7 September, Premier Chris Minns met business leaders in Sawtell to discuss broader economic and social impacts.

The park includes 176,000 hectares of state forest and connects existing national parks, creating a 476,000-hectare reserve.

The move promises to protect endangered species – headlined by the region’s dwindling koala population – and fast-tracks one of the state’s most significant conservation projects.

Mr Minns sat down with business leaders including Matthew Sparrius of C-Change Adventures, a local operator providing eco-tours involving kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and yabbying.

Mr Sparrius, who operates the business with his daughter Issy, described the GKNP as a game-changer for eco-tourism along the North Coast.

“C-Change Adventures… and other businesses, were able to meet with the Premier and ministers three times over the past year [to] discuss the economic benefits we saw coming into the community,” he said.

“As an eco-tourism business, we are delighted that GKNP has been formed to its full extent.

“It allows businesses like mine to grow, to market and advertise, and create more tours within the area.

“We will be able to merge a paddle through the GKNP with bushwalking tours showing off the beautiful environment around us.”

Mr Sparrius likened the potential of the park to the Great Barrier Reef, predicting the North Coast would reap long-term benefits from international recognition.

“Similar to the Great Barrier Reef, we hope that in the future we will have a sustainable eco-business model.

“With the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, there were many that thought the fishing industry would be devastated [but] it has been replaced by a huge tourism industry.

“There will be a flow on to our area for accommodation providers and cafés, which have been doing it tough since COVID.”

By David WIGLEY