What's happening
The NSW Government has announced the proposed boundary for the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), alongside a comprehensive plan to support workers, industry, and local communities.
Taking steps to create a national park on the Mid North Coast is a direct response to the need to conserve and protect the state’s endangered koala population as well as many other threatened fauna species in the region.
A temporary moratorium on timber harvesting in the 176,000 hectares of designated state forests outlined in this map (PDF 878.14KB) is now in place while key elements of this transition are finalised. This means that native forest harvesting in these locations has ceased. This moratorium does not affect operations outside the designated area or on private land. Private Native Forestry is still permitted with appropriate approvals.
The NSW Government is working directly with businesses and workers that are affected by the reduction in timber supply resulting from the moratorium to ensure they are supported through this period.
Mental health, counselling and training services are also available to workers of impacted businesses. Find out more on the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.
The final creation of the park is dependent on the successful registration of a carbon project under the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) Method, which is currently moving through the Federal Government assessment processes. Pending the outcomes of the work being undertaken by the NSW Government over the next 12 months, the Great Koala National Park would see existing reserves combined with the 176,000 hectares to create a vast network of protected areas encompassing over 475,000 hectares from Kempsey to Grafton and inland to Ebor.
This will become a centrepiece of koala conservation in NSW as well as a must-see destination, attracting visitors and contributing to the local economy.
The potential new reserves will permanently protect high-quality koala habitat and an estimated population of between 10,300 to 14,540 koalas.
In addition to koalas, 66 other threatened fauna and flora species have been recorded in the assessment area in the past 30 years. This represents just over 22% of threatened fauna species in NSW (excluding marine mammals). Notably, 44% of the threatened mammal species in NSW have also been recorded in the assessment area. Read the full threatened species list (PDF 465.77KB).
Great Koala National Park Worker Support Package
The Worker Support Package will provide comprehensive financial assistance to employees of Wood Supply Agreement holders and to employees of harvesting operators contracted by the Forestry Corporation of NSW directly impacted by the Great Koala National Park moratorium.
View the program resources
Transition plan and support for workers and industry
Information on the timber industry moratorium, worker support, and long-term transition planning.
GKNP Resources
Easily downloadable and shareable information that you can share with your audiences and communities.
Help and support
The NSW Government is working directly with businesses and staff that are affected by the reduction in timber supply resulting from the moratorium.
Mental health support:
- Mental health and counselling services are available to impacted workers and their immediate families.
- The TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential and 24/7 mental health, financial and legal counselling services to affected employees and their immediate family. Contact TELUS Health on 1800 835 871 or via one.telushealth.com and cite ‘GKNP Moratorium Industry Support Program’.
Rural Financial Counselling:
- The Rural Financial Counselling Service can provide support to impacted forestry industry businesses. For more information, visit rfcsnr.org.au
Training support:
- Affected workers will also have access to training support. Local Training Services NSW staff will be available to provide tailored skills advice and assist in identifying suitable job opportunities.
- Training Services can provide independent support and advice on NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET). Affected workers considering alternative employment can access training support and advice through Training Services NSW staff. Training Services can support access to a range of training products through their network of accredited training providers. This may include full qualifications or part qualifications (micro credentials / short courses) to fill identified skills gaps and support transition to new employment.
- For more information, visit training.nsw.gov.au or contact your local Training Services Officers Jackie Martinson at Jacqueline.Martinson1@det.nsw.edu.au and Gerard Geerligs at Gerard.Geerligs1@det.nsw.edu.au, or on 13 28 11.
The NSW Government is working with impacted mills and harvest and haulage operators to support them to pay their staff.
The Forestry Industry Supply Chain Support Program is now open.
The program is providing up to $100,000 to downstream businesses that have contracts with sawmills or contractors impacted by the moratorium.
To find out more information on eligibility or to apply, visit https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants
Affected workers considering alternative employment can access training support and advice through Training Services NSW staff. Training Services can support access to a range of training products through their network of accredited training providers. This may include full qualifications or part qualifications (micro credentials / short courses) to fill identified skills gaps and support transition to new employment.
For more information, visit training.nsw.gov.au, call 13 28 11.
- The TELUS Health Employee Assistance Program offers free, confidential and 24/7 mental health, financial and legal counselling services to affected employees and their immediate family. Contact TELUS Health on 1800 835 871 or via one.telushealth.com and cite ‘GKNP Moratorium Industry Support Program’.
- The Rural Financial Counselling Service is available to provide free and independent financial counselling to impacted mills and harvest and haulage contractors. For more information, visit rfcsnr.org.au.
Frequently asked questions
Koalas in NSW were declared endangered by the NSW Independent Scientific Committee and the Australian Government in 2022.
Additionally, a NSW Legislative Council Committee Inquiry found that without urgent Government intervention to protect habitat and address other threats, koalas would become extinct in NSW before 2050.
This Inquiry recommended investigating the establishment of a Great Koala National Park.
The Great Koala National Park will provide large areas of connected and high-quality habitat to protect this significant koala population.
The park will also benefit other threatened species including southern greater gliders, glossy black cockatoos and spider orchids. Read the full threatened species list (PDF 465.77KB).
The NSW Government has announced an immediate temporary moratorium on timber harvesting in state forests identified to become part of the new national park.
This means that in these forests (PDF 58.94KB) current harvesting operations will cease and no new operations will commence.
The moratorium only applies to timber harvesting. During this period there will be no change to existing recreational and commercial uses, including licenses or permit conditions during the moratorium.
No. Timber harvesting has only been paused within state forest in the Great Koala National Park assessment area.
Areas not covered by the assessment area will continue under normal management arrangements. Harvesting operations in NSW state forests are regulated under the Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOA) under the NSW Forestry Policy Framework (NSW Forestry Policy Framework). These rules set stringent standards that ensure timber production is sustainable.
The NSW Government acknowledges a variety of existing uses in the area in addition to timber harvesting.
During the moratorium there will be no changes for permit and license holders.
NPWS will work with existing permit and licensees to determine future arrangements.
There will be no changes for permit and license holders during the moratorium.
Existing permits and licences will be permitted to continue.
NPWS will work with existing permit and licensees to determine future arrangements. If the lands become national park, most uses will be able to continue.
State forest plantations have not been assessed as part of the Great Koala National Park proposal.
The Government is committed to maintaining a sustainable timber industry. State forest plantations are a key part of this.
The Great Koala National Park involves only the transfer of certain state forests to the national park estate. The NSW Government is investing in the protection of koala habitat on private land under the NSW Koala Strategy.
The proposed new park will have no significant impact on housing delivery. More than 90% of timber used for housing is from softwood plantations, not native forests. The remaining 10% is used for decking, panelling and flooring.
The creation of the Great Koala National Park involved an assessment of 176,000 hectares of native state forest. State forest plantations were excluded from the assessment.
The assessment and consultation process involved three key components:
- An independent economic and social assessment that considered the impacts on local jobs and communities
- The establishment of industry, community and Aboriginal advisory panels to provide input to the assessment process and creation of the park
- Expert environmental and cultural heritage assessments to ensure the Great Koala National Park aligns with the highest standards of environmental protection and respect for cultural heritage
Three advisory panels were established to provide input to the assessment process and creation of the park.
The advisory panels represent the views of the community, Aboriginal groups and industry, providing advice as part of the assessment process.
NPWS engaged with existing state forest user groups, including recreational users and commercial operators, during the consultation period.
Advice from Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti Aboriginal people has informed the Government’s decision and will ensure ongoing management supports the aspirations of Aboriginal people.
The proposed new national park will contribute to Closing the Gap targets through the development of joint management arrangements, employment of Aboriginal staff, engagement of Aboriginal businesses and support for traditional cultural practices.
Key actions to start establishing the proposed new park include:
- Employment of NPWS staff, including 15% identified and/or targeted positions
- Funding for Aboriginal rangers and community initiatives to support Aboriginal aspirations for the GKNP
There will be opportunities to provide feedback on future management and uses.
Consultation will include state forest users, including recreational users and commercial operators, to help determine appropriate reserve categories and to maintain, as far as possible, existing uses.
An Aboriginal advisory group will continue to provide advice on future management of the park, including joint management.
Koala drone surveys were conducted across the assessment area between April to July 2024. This drone survey effort involved more than 4,000km of drone flights at night by a team of 26 pilots.
The estimated population of koalas in the assessment area is between 10,311-14,541 koalas (95% confidence interval), with a mean estimate of 12,111 koalas.
All national parks are guided by a plan of management.
This will involve extensive community consultation to ensure a broad range of uses, including many of the existing recreational activities, can be undertaken in the new park. Opportunities for existing users and recreational groups to help determine which reserve categories are selected, will be provided as the plan of management is developed.
Creating the Great Koala National Park will involve changing land tenure and management practices. Timber harvesting will cease, allowing native forests to continue growing beyond standard harvesting rotation cycles, sequestering more carbon. Emissions from harvesting and post-harvest management will be also avoided. Establishing the park will positively impact carbon abatement.
The Government is exploring the potential benefits of carbon revenue to invest in local communities, maintain employment and ensure effective land management. As part of this, the Government is seeking to develop an Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (Cwth).
The method has been shortlisted for development by the Australian Government and further technical development and consultation is currently progressing. If adopted and applied to the Great Koala National Park, the carbon credits (ACCUs) generated could provide economic development and funding for park management and future infrastructure.