The Great Koala National Park has moved from promise to Parliament, with legislation to create the giant Mid North Coast reserve introduced on Tuesday, 13 October.
The National Park Estate (Great Koala National Park Reservations) Bill 2026 would add more than 178,000 hectares of state forest and other Crown land to the national park estate, protecting habitat for an estimated 12,000 koalas, 36,000 gliders, and more than 100 threatened species.
Combined with existing national parks and reserves, it would become one of the largest parks in NSW, with a protected area spanning more than 475,000 hectares.
“The Great Koala National Park is one of the most important things we can do to save koalas in NSW,” said Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe.
“It is also about creating an area that people can explore and enjoy for generations.”
The bill is not only about wildlife. It sets up different reserve categories across the park, allowing a wide range of recreational activities to continue alongside conservation.
Most of the newly added state forest and Crown land would be reserved as national park. Thirteen per cent would be designated regional park, supporting more intensive recreation and community activities.
Visitors will be able to enjoy bushwalking, trail running, camping, kayaking, canoeing, horse riding, trail-bike riding, four-wheel driving, fishing, and mountain-bike riding, as well as dog walking in select reserves.
The reserve categories were informed by feedback from the community and recreational groups about how they use the forests now and what they want to see in future. That feedback showed strong support for protecting wildlife and maintaining recreational access.
“From bushwalking and canoeing to mountain-bike riding and camping, we’ve listened to how people want to enjoy the park and we’re making sure that while we save koalas, the Great Koala National Park can also be a world-class area for recreation,” she said.
Car rally fans have not been forgotten. The bill allows the Minister for the Environment to approve motor racing events on existing roads in regional parks within the Great Koala National Park in appropriate circumstances, recognising the long history of car rally events in the region.
There is also a plan for the forestry workers affected. A support package is in place for workers and businesses, including redundancy support, retraining and upskilling assistance, relocation support, and access to financial and legal guidance and mental health services.
The bill also includes a provision enabling Forestry Corporation staff to be appointed to suitable roles within the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, helping keep local skills, experience and knowledge in the region.
“We made a promise to create a Great Koala National Park and to support workers, and we’re delivering on that commitment,” said Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty.
“Alongside this park, we’re rolling out a comprehensive package to help support impacted forestry workers.”
“We’re also legislating a pathway for eligible Forestry Corporation workers in the area to keep using their skills and strong connection to the land in the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service,” she said.
The final creation of the Great Koala National Park is conditional on the Clean Energy Regulator’s registration of the carbon project.
“We’ve listened closely to local families, outdoor enthusiasts and North Coast communities to get this balance right,” said Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin.
“The Great Koala National Park delivers crucial protection for our koalas and native wildlife while creating world-class recreation opportunities that will boost local tourism and support North Coast businesses.”
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