Long wait over as Great Koala National Park boundaries are announced

ELATION, happiness, relief, disappointment, despair and anger were all felt across the Coffs Coast last Sunday 7 September, after the proposed boundaries of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) were announced.

The long-awaited news was delivered by Premier Chris Minns at the Bongil Bongil National Park picnic area, where he was flanked by Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Heritage and the Environment Penny Sharpe; Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW, and Western NSW Tara Moriarty; and Minister for Small Business, Recovery and the North Coast Janelle Saffin.

The announcement coincided with Threatened Species Day.

Under the proposal, more than 176,000 hectares of state forest will be added to existing national parks to create a 476,000-hectare reserve, one of the largest in NSW.

It will protect more than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 Greater Gliders and the habitat for over 100 other threatened species.

Mr Minns also announced an immediate moratorium on Forestry Corporation logging in the area.

“Faced with the situation that we have virtually unambiguous evidence that koalas will go extinct in the wild, we believe that we were left with no choice,” he said.

“A smaller sized park would be the worst of all worlds. It would have an impact on the industry and it wouldn’t protect and preserve the threatened species that we want.”

The Premier also announced $6m in community and small business support for the Mid North Coast region and an additional $60 million (on top of $80 million already announced) to establish the park.

Penny Sharpe said the government’s aspirations for the park were high.

“I want [to see] that when visitors from overseas come here, they go and see the Reef, they go and see Uluru and they come to the Great Koala National Park.”

Ms Sharpe thanked the members of the Industry Panel, the Aboriginal Panel and the Community Panel who were consulted during the process.

She also noted that 100 National Parks and Wildlife Services jobs would be created along with eight Aboriginal ranger positions.

Ms Saffin, who’s also the Member for Lismore, said it was important to work together to ensure no timber workers were left behind by the decision.

“We will be supporting impacted workers, businesses, communities and industry to maximise opportunities as we deliver the Great Koala National Park,” she said.

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

Conservationists respond

The groups that have been lobbying for the GKNP for well over a decade, have reacted positively to the announcement.

“I thought it was a very strong presentation that indicated a firm commitment to the decision,” said Ashley Love, who is credited with initially proposing the Park.

“It is up there with the other great conservation decisions in NSW.”

Mr Love said some “corrections” are needed to the GKNP proposal, such as World Heritage nomination, the use of historical plantations on former high value land and there are some areas that have not been included.

Dr Grahame Douglas from the Coffs Coast branch of the National Parks Association (NPA) told News Of The Area that “it’s incredibly exciting”.

“The campaign has been going for 15 years, so we welcome the government’s announcement.

“[But] it’s really important that we look after those whose jobs have been affected.”

NPA NSW President Liz Jeremy agrees.

“We should all recognise the impact of the decision on the forestry industry and the families who rely upon forestry jobs,” she said.

“There’s been a lot of emotional investment in this that has impacted many people.

“NPA fully supports the Government’s proposed transition package, especially measures to increase investment in the establishment of plantations on degraded agricultural lands.”.

A spokesperson for the Forest Ecology Alliance, one of a number of groups that consistently promote the GKNP said, “While we are filled with joy for the forests of our region and eternally grateful to the government for this wise decision to establish the GKNP, we are devastated that critical koala habitat, including Newry State Forest (The Bollanolla), Pine Creek State Forest, and Tuckers Nob, has been excluded from the park.

”Had local knowledge been genuinely considered, it would have been clear that these forests and others like them are essential to the survival of koala meta-populations.”

The Nambucca Valley Conservation Association (NVCA) was one of three local groups that developed the idea of a GKNP on the Coffs Coast more than 13 years ago.

President Paula Flack said, “This welcome decision gives our North Coast koalas a chance to recover from the devastating impacts of habitat loss from industrial logging and the unprecedented 2019/20 bushfires, and will hopefully stop their predicted trajectory towards extinction.”

The Bob Brown Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund and the Australian Conservation Foundation all issued press releases praising the announcement, but cautioned that more needed to be done to protect threatened species.

Dr Tim Cadman, whose work indicates that plantations can contain native forest and threatened species, also sounded a warning.

“The plantations are some of the best habitats in the park.

“Not including these impacts 10 percent of the koala population – that’s decimation.

“Expanding the park to the west, as we recommended, will make no difference if the coastal habitat is missing.”

Former Head of the Federal Department of Treasury Dr Ken Henry, who is now with the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said, “Public support for the GKNP has been overwhelming throughout regional Australia.

“More than 100 businesses on the Mid North Coast signed a letter demanding the cessation of logging in the region to create the full 176,000 hectares of koala habitat.”

He said that recent polling shows 73 percent of Port Macquarie voters, 70 percent of Coffs Harbour voters, and 64 percent of Oxley voters back the creation of the GKNP.

“This landmark announcement is not just a win for the environment but also for the region’s economy.”

Timber industry support

The immediate temporary moratorium will have an impact on six of the more than 25 timber mills in the region and approximately 300 jobs.

The Premier and Ministers were at pains to point out that as the party of workers, the Labor Government would ensure that any disadvantaged workers would be looked after.

Assistance includes JobKeeper-style payments to support workers by covering salaries, and also financial assistance towards business operating costs.

Workers and their families will have immediate free access to mental health, financial and legal counselling services, and training support.

Unions are, at the very least, skeptical.

Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) NSW Secretary Tony Callinan, said the Government’s decision represents a betrayal of working families and regional communities that have sustainably managed these forests for generations.

“The Industry Advisory Panel, which the Government itself established, recommended 37,000 hectares as a balanced approach that would protect koalas while preserving jobs.

“Instead, the Government has gone nearly five times larger, showing complete disregard for the workers and communities who will pay the price for this decision.”

Alison Rudman, NSW Secretary of the Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union (TFTU) said, “Every timber worker’s pay cheque flows directly into small regional economies.

“When you kill the timber industry, you kill the towns.

“Businesses close, schools lose students, health services withdraw, and entire communities wither away.”

Timber NSW is calling on the Premier to “show some compassion by making sure what is left of the industry is sustainable, diverse and equitable”.

“For example extending the Wood Supply Agreements past the expiry in 2028 so they can invest in new machinery, processing equipment and encourage investment in hardwood plantations,” Chief Executive Maree McCaskill said.

‘A sickening by-product of this decision is that by further restricting sustainable native forestry in NSW even more pressure will be applied to the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and PNG.”

President of Forestry Australia Dr Michelle Freeman, said the proposal lacks a “science-led plan”.

“By sidelining the complementary role of actively managed state forests, the Government has missed the chance to maximise outcomes for koalas and communities,” she said.

“Science-based, adaptive forest management across all tenures is essential to maintaining healthy forests, adapting to climate change, and conserving biodiversity.

“The State Government’s decision risks repeating past mistakes where a shift away from active and adaptive management has led to declines in native species, including koalas.

“Recent research highlights that koala populations in NSW state forests remain high and stable, thanks to thoughtful regulated management.”

A spokesperson at a sawmill affected by the announcement said that without more information, it was too soon to comment.

MPs react

National Party MPs responded negatively to the Labor Government decision.

“Hard-working Dads on the North Coast woke up to the news on Father’s Day that they were out of a job – as Labor’s Great Koala National Park completely obliterates the NSW timber industry,” party leader Dugal Saunders shared.

“Not only will it gut thousands of jobs from the regions, but it will also have a cascading impact on timber mills, contract harvesters and other sectors including construction, mining and energy.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said, “The flow-on effects of this decision will impact thousands of jobs and small businesses and it’s impossible to justify how just $6m will help support not only those impacted businesses, but also grow jobs and investment in the tourism sector.”

“With no Koala zoo or hospital being attached to the park, tourists have no additional reason to visit.

“On top of this, the timber required for building the homes we desperately need, power poles, decking, structural timber for bridges, and hardwood timber for pallets used to freight all of our food to the supermarkets, will become harder to source – and this will mean prices will increase across the board.

“The Minns Labor Government will also restrict recreational use within the park.

“Currently, mountain bikers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, horse riders, dirt bikers and campers can use many areas of the State Forests.”

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson is also expecting the flow-on impacts to hit “the whole community”.

“From the small businesses who rely on forestry workers, to the cost of building homes, to the very real mental health toll on families facing an uncertain future.

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp said he had been fighting “this craziness” since it started.

“The Premier must think the CSIRO and DPI scientist Dr Brad Law have no idea, after stating that koalas will be extinct by 2050 without this GKNP.

“His own government’s drone survey in 2024 showed over 12,000 koalas living in the State Forest assessment area alone, yet they refuse to do a comparative survey in the National Park next door.

“The CSIRO says there are between 175,000 and 750,000 koalas in Australia. Doesn’t sound nearly extinct to me.”

Next steps

Legislation to establish the GKNP will have to pass both Houses of Parliament.

Independent MPs Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie), Jacqui Scruby (Pittwater), Michael Regan (Wakehurst) and Alex Greenwich (Sydney) and MLC Sue Higginson all hailed the announcement as a historic breakthrough, a resounding win for wildlife protection, climate action and regional prosperity.

The Premier said he hoped that enough Coalition MPs, who expressed support in the past, will facilitate its passage through the Legislative Council.

By Andrew VIVIAN