The Great Koala National Park

On National Threatened Species Day, the NSW Government is asserting:

• The proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park
• An speedy non permanent moratorium on timber harvesting inside this proposed boundary
• A complete employee and business help package deal
• $6m in group and small enterprise helps for the mid-north coast area
• An extra $60 million to ascertain the park.

Without motion, koalas are on observe to be extinct within the wild in NSW by 2050. At the final election, we promised to take motion to ascertain the Great Koala National Park — and at present we’re delivering on that dedication.

The park will reserve 176,000 hectares of state forest and join with current nationwide parks to create a 476,000-hectare reserve – one of many largest in NSW.

This park will defend greater than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 Greater Gliders and habitat for over 100 different threatened species.

The Government has imposed a short lived moratorium efficient Monday 8 September 2025 on timber harvesting inside the proposed park boundary.

The NSW Government has deliberate rigorously and can stand with affected staff, companies and communities each step of the best way.

It’s why at present we’re asserting complete help for impacted enterprise and staff.

The speedy non permanent moratorium will have an effect on 6 out of greater than 25 timber mills within the area and roughly 300 jobs.

Assistance contains JobKeeper-style funds to help staff by overlaying salaries, and likewise monetary help in the direction of enterprise working prices.

As effectively as monetary funds to cowl salaries, staff and their households may have speedy free entry to psychological well being, monetary and authorized counselling companies and coaching help.

The Government has contacted each impacted mill and can now start discussions with them about their long-term choices and guarantee applicable help for staff.

The Government recognises there shall be challenges because the transition begins and is dedicated to working with native communities each step of the best way.

The NSW Government has additionally dedicated $6 million to help new alternatives for tourism and small companies on the Mid North Coast, with the package deal to be developed in session with native communities to develop jobs and funding because the Great Koala National Park is established.

An extra $60 million in funding is being introduced for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to help the institution of the park. This is along with the $80 million introduced in 2023.

The last creation of the park depends on the profitable registration of a carbon undertaking underneath the Improved Native Forest Management Method, which is at the moment transferring via the Federal Government evaluation processes.

Today’s announcement follows in depth session with business and group stakeholders and a complete knowledgeable evaluation course of.

The Government thanks everybody concerned for his or her enter and endurance throughout this course of.

The Great Koala National Park won’t finish forestry on the North Coast. The Independent Forestry Panel is continuous to offer recommendation to the Government to tell the Forestry Industry Action Plan.

Information is out there on-line, through www.nsw.gov.au/greatkoalanationalpark.

Quote attributable to Premier of NSW, Chris Minns:

“Koalas are at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW – that’s unthinkable. The Great Koala National Park is about turning that around.

“We’ve listened carefully and we’re making sure workers, businesses and communities are supported every step of the way.”

Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“The Great Koala National Park has been a dream for more than a decade. It will ensure koalas survive into the future so our grandchildren will still be able to see them in the wild.

“These amazing old-growth forests are among the world’s top biodiversity hotspots – home to more than 100 threatened species including greater gliders, the powerful owl and yellow-bellied gliders.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty:

“Our government’s priority is to fully support impacted workers with payments and services during this major change.

“That is why we will provide financial assistance to businesses we know will be impacted, so they can continue to pay their staff’s salaries and cover costs.

“We are committed to a sustainable forestry industry in NSW.”

Quote attributable to Minister for the North Coast and Minister for Small Business, Janelle Saffin:

“We are delivering on our election promise to deliver the Great Koala National Park for the North Coast.

“This will deliver the protection of our most precious and loved species, our koalas, that everyone in NSW wants to see protected; and the Greater Koala National Park will also provide an economic boon for locals and businesses alike.

“It is important to work together to ensure no one is left behind. We will be supporting impacted workers, businesses, communities and industry to maximise opportunities as we deliver the Great Koala National Park.

“I am committed to ensure that our forest workers and small business forest operators are supported economically and emotionally through this change.”