Great Koala National Park one step nearer 

On 7 September 2025, the NSW Government formally unveiled the proposed boundaries of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), along with a moratorium on logging in state forests ear-marked for cover, and a complete plan to assist staff, business and native communities.¹ 

EDO welcomes the federal government’s announcement to ascertain the GKNP, which is able to present a much-needed lifeline for endangered koalas and different wildlife that decision native forests dwelling, together with southern better gliders, yellow-bellied gliders, shiny black cockatoos and spider orchids.  

Habitat loss is a key risk to biodiversity in NSW and defending and stopping loss and fragmentation of habitat is important for reversing ongoing decline and halting extinctions.  

The proposal would see 176,000ha of state-owned native forests mixed with current reserves to create a community of protected areas on the NSW Mid-north Coast, spanning 475,000ha. 

In our 2019 submission to the NSW parliamentary inquiry into koala populations and habitat in NSW, EDO highlighted the failure of NSW legal guidelines to supply ample protections for the enduring species.²  

We flagged that efforts to handle koala conservation have traditionally centered primarily on funding and coverage, with out substantial legislative or regulatory reform to extend authorized protections for koala populations and habitat.   

We suggested that the strongest authorized safety for koalas can be to order designated protected areas, with nationwide parks offering the best stage of safety towards habitat loss and fragmentation, together with from improvement, agriculture and forestry actions.  

We have strongly supported proposals from koala consultants for additions to the nationwide parks property that particularly goal koala habitat.  

We perceive the proposed GKNP intently aligns with proposals advocated by NSW setting teams, together with the NSW National Parks Association and native and regional setting teams together with the Nambucca Valley Conservation Association, Bellingen Environment Centre, Clarence Valley Environment Centre, North-east Forest alliance and North Coast Environment Centre³  

Next steps 

Formal designation of the GKNP would require legislative amendments to order the GKNP below the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.  

The authorities proposes to introduce the Bill to the NSW Parliament in 2026.  

The authorities has additionally indicated that designating the GKNP is contingent on the profitable registration of a carbon venture below the proposed Improved Native Forest Management Method, which is at present transferring by way of the federal authorities evaluation processes. It is unclear how the GKNP can be affected if that course of is delayed or fails to proceed; if that was the case EDO and the broader group would nonetheless anticipate the GKNP to be established in recognition of its broad biodiversity, social, cultural, and financial values.  

Importantly, the federal government has introduced a moratorium on timber harvesting in state forests recognized to change into a part of the brand new nationwide park.  

It has suggested that present harvesting operations will stop, and no new operations will start.  

This is a vital step in defending proposed areas of the GKNP whereas its creation is formalised.  

In the previous, EDO has offered authorized help to members of the group who have been involved that areas of state forest throughout the proposed GKNP footprint have been being logged, regardless of the federal government’s election dedication to create the park, placing the vital environmental values of those areas in danger. 

The introduced moratorium means all logging throughout the introduced boundaries of the park should now stop.  

The NSW Government has additionally indicated that it’s working to comprise the variety of companies impacted and minimise job losses as a result of discount in wooden provide. 

This is a vital step in guaranteeing affected communities are supported within the transition to establishing the park. 

We encourage the NSW Government to maneuver swiftly to finish these ultimate steps and formally enshrine the GKNP in regulation. 

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