Australia approves new national koala park in New South Wales
New South Wales parliament passed a bill to establish the Great Koala National Park before the end of 2026.
Conservation groups celebrated this historic win after over a decade of campaigning for the protected area in the Mid North Coast region. The new legislation creates a significant new reserve for wildlife protection in the state.
This expanded area will provide a safe home for 12,000 koalas and over one hundred other endangered plants and animals. The new park will incorporate 178,000 hectares of state forests into the existing national park estate.
Aboriginal rangers will guide management efforts while the government employs eight staff through community-controlled organizations to support local people. The Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti people helped shape the national park and will continue to ensure its proper stewardship.
Some critics worry that long-term funding relies on a controversial carbon credit scheme that allows industries to offset emissions. Despite these concerns, many conservationists accepted the plan as a practical step forward to stop native forest logging.
“This is a historic win for koalas, forests and the communities who have been fighting for their protection.”