The long-awaited Great Koala National Park has moved a significant step closer to reality, with the state government confident legislation to formally create the park could go before NSW Parliament before the end of the year.
Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe welcomed the Senate’s endorsement this week of the Improved Native Forest Management method under the Federal Government’s Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme, describing it as an essential step towards one of the most significant conservation projects in Australia’s history.
The Great Koala National Park will span more than 475,000 hectares of native forest and existing reserves across the Coffs Harbour hinterland, making it the second largest park in NSW.
It is expected to protect more than 100 threatened species, including 12,000 koalas and 36,000 greater gliders.
“The Great Koala National Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a park to protect the iconic koala,” Minister Sharpe stated.
“It will be the second largest park in NSW conserving over 475,000 hectares of native forest and existing reserves. When established, it will protect more than 100 threatened species, including 12,000 koalas and 36,000 greater gliders.”
For the first time in NSW, the park will have Aboriginal rangers employed by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, embedding cultural knowledge and care at the heart of park management.
Minister Sharpe stated the park would also be a world-class tourist destination, boosting local tourism and the economy.
Under the new method, no fossil fuel companies will be able to purchase carbon credits generated in NSW, with credits instead prioritised for NSW manufacturing industries.
Once the Clean Energy Regulator approves the method, the Minns Labor Government will introduce the necessary legislation to State Parliament “as soon as possible”, Minister Sharpe stated.
The method has been three years in development and was backed by a coalition of conservation groups, including the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the North East Forest Alliance, the National Parks Association of NSW, the World Wildlife Fund, the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, Greenpeace and the GKNP Aboriginal Advisory Panel.
Minister Sharpe also welcomed the NSW Greens’ support, thanking “all those who have engaged constructively to strengthen this method”.
“Today is an important milestone to protect koalas in the wild,” she stated.
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