Legislation Introduced to Establish Great Koala National Park in NSW

Legislation to establish the Great Koala National Park was introduced into the New South Wales Parliament on 13 October 2026, aiming to protect significant koala habitats and wildlife corridors across the region.

The proposed national park encompasses more than 178,000 hectares, expanding from an initial 175,000-hectare proposal through the recent addition of 386 hectares of Crown land. According to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC), which welcomed the bill following more than a decade of campaigning, the protected area covers habitat for koalas and over 100 other threatened species.

NCC Senior Forest Campaigner Clancy Barnard stated that the park is supported by more than $140 million in new funding directed toward the Mid North Coast region. The funding is intended to cover conservation efforts, forest restoration, park management, and local employment.

The initiative also includes the establishment of new Aboriginal ranger positions employed via Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to incorporate First Nations management practices into the park's care.

Under the proposed plans, the park will feature recreational amenities, including free campsites as well as continued access for horse riders, mountain bikers, and dog walkers.

Barnard noted that nearly 10,000 hectares of the proposed park area had been logged before a government moratorium was declared, emphasizing the necessity of funding for ongoing weed management, fire management, and habitat repair to mitigate bushfire risks in previously logged sections. The NCC stated that it plans to continue advocating for further habitat protections and an end to native forest logging across New South Wales.

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