The Great Koala National Park Plans To Link Protected Areas With State Forest To Protect Koalas, Koala near Bellingen, Photo by Lincoln Head, NSW, logging, animal

 

The future recreational use of the Great Koala National Park may be wider than first thought, as the NSW Government announces the park will consist of a variety of reserve types, not just national park.

 

The NSW Government is seeking community input on the future recreational uses of the soon-to-be-established Great Koala National Park via an online survey.

These survey results will be taken into consideration alongside wider, ongoing consultation with community groups, such as First Nation communities, environment groups, local governments, and recreational groups such as hiking, 4WD, archery and gun, horse riding, sporting car, and MTB clubs.

‘Locals know this landscape best, and their ideas will help create a park people feel real ownership of and want to use’, said Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin.

The government has stated that the Great Koala National Park will act as an umbrella term to refer to the entire park footprint, which will comprise of a range of different reserve types within the NSW national parks estate, such as regional parks, Aboriginal areas, and state conservation areas.

This will allow for a variety of outdoor recreation activities to be possible in different areas throughout the park.

‘The Great Koala National Park will protect more than 100 threatened species, but it’s not just about conservation. The park will be a recreational hotspot for locals and visitors alike’, said Acting Minister for the Environment, Steve Whan.

The public is encouraged to have their say via the online survey before Sunday the 1st of March.

 

Great Koala National Park Controversy

In September 2025, the NSW Government declared an immediate halt to logging within the boundary of the future Great Koala National Park in Northern NSW.

The announcement was long-fought for by environmentalists and conservationists, but met with opposition from the logging industry, which was compensated financially for its losses.

The park is being established foremost for the conservation of over 12,000 koalas in NSW, where the iconic marsupial is listed as endangered, as well as over 100 more threatened species including the Greater glider.

 

Feature photo by Lincoln Head

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