Great Koala National Park legislation passes

THE Great Koala National Park (GKNP) legislation passed both Houses of the NSW Parliament last week, and has been hailed by many as one of the most significant conservation victories in the history of NSW.

The park will bring more than 178,000 hectares of public forest into the national park estate, creating a protected landscape of more than 475,000 hectares that is home to an estimated 12,000 koalas and more than 100 threatened species.

However, many conservationists are unhappy that the Park is fragmented and, in particular the ‘Forest Bridge’ proposal to link areas of it together was omitted.

The Greens secured 10 amendments in the Legislative Assembly to expand Bongil Bongil National Park, create a new nature reserve at Orara East State Forest, prevent the leasing of retained native state forests, restrict motor racing in five regional parks, and strengthen ministerial accountability.

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Sue Higginson hailed the wins and flagged the fights to come.

“This is an extraordinary achievement and a historic victory for our precious native forests, our threatened species and the communities that have fought for more than a decade to see this park become a reality,” Ms Higginson said.

“There is also unfinished business with the Forest Bridge proposal that would protect critical habitat in Pine Creek and Tuckers Nob State Forests, strengthening the connection between Bongil Bongil National Park and the forests of the escarpment.

“We fought to have these forests included and will continue to work with the community to secure their protection.”

City of Coffs Harbour Councillor, Jonathan Cassell, reflected on the city’s history of koala conservation action.

“Coffs Harbour Council first flew the flag for koalas in our region in 1999 with the very first Koala Plan of Management in NSW underlying our long commitment to koala preservation,” he said.

“In 2022, Councillors from across the political spectrum collectively supported and backed the creation of a Great Koala National Park.

“Australia’s national icon has now been given a significant lift in conservation and tourism status but some critical areas such as the Pine Creek koala corridor, known as the Forest Bridge Proposal, has disappointingly been ignored, with obvious risks now to tourism and koalas.

“Congratulations still must be given to the large majority of our community for their support of this historic moment that now positions koalas as the future of Coffs Coast.”

Major conservation groups also welcomed the legislation’s passing.

“After more than a decade of frontline action and endless campaigning, the Labor government has finally delivered on its promise to create the Great Koala National Park,” said Doro Babeck, Bob Brown Foundation’s NSW Campaigner.

“While clawing any forest from the jaws of loggers is a win, many vital forests have been left out.

“The fight goes on to achieve a truly world-class park, not a patchwork collection of different reserves, allowing for car racing, logging and quad-biking.”

Dailan Pugh, from the North East Forest Alliance, said: “The Great Koala National Park provides a model for protecting species, giving Aboriginal people a say through joint management and employment in Caring for Country, providing new recreational opportunities, restoring stream flows, rehabilitating degraded forests, increasing sequestration of CO2, and providing a fair and just transition for affected timber workers.”

Clancy Barnard, Senior Forest Campaigner, Nature Conservation Council NSW, said, “Today is a historic milestone for koalas, our forests and the thousands of people who have fought for more than a decade to make the Great Koala National Park a reality.

“We congratulate the NSW Government for delivering on this commitment and investing in the long-term restoration and management of these magnificent forests.

“We also welcome the government’s approach to public access, with new walking trails, campsites and opportunities for people to continue enjoying a range of recreational activities in appropriate areas, alongside strict protections for sensitive ecosystems.”

Dermot O’Gorman, WWF-Australia’s CEO agreed, saying, “The Great Koala National Park will protect an estimated 12,000 koalas, 36,000 greater gliders and countless other native animals that call these forests home.

“This is conservation at the scale nature needs.

“Protecting hundreds of thousands of hectares of connected habitat will give koalas and other endangered species room to recover and adapt as the climate changes.

“We thank Premier Minns, Minister Sharpe and the NSW Government for delivering on their promise to create the park and working to ensure it benefits local communities as well as wildlife.”

Greens MP and environment spokesperson Sue Higginson said: “Today we celebrate the Great Koala National Park and the people who made it possible.

“Tomorrow we continue the work of protecting the rest of our public native forests.”

OPINION: Read The Nationals NSW Leader and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh’s Letter to the Editor, ‘Carbon Park misses the mark,’ Page ??.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Email your Letter to the Editor to media@newsofthearea.com.au

By Andrew VIVIAN