Great Koala National Park legislation passed in New South Wales

The New South Wales parliament has passed legislation to establish the Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast. The decision follows more than a decade of campaigning and was finalized after the legislation cleared both the upper and lower houses of the state parliament.

The new national park will incorporate over 178,000 hectares of state forest and Crown land. This expansion is intended to protect the habitats of approximately 12,000 koalas, 36,000 gliders, and more than 100 threatened species. The park is expected to feature new walking trails and campsites while maintaining strict protections for sensitive ecosystems.

However, the decision has raised concerns within the NSW timber industry. Projections suggest that timber harvested from native forests in the state will decrease by approximately 20 per cent, leading to economic uncertainty for local workers.