Sydney's largest koala populations will be further protected with new measures under the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP).
The plan was updated with 31 recommendations, which include protecting additional areas of habitat and ensuring that wildlife corridors are suitable for koala movement in south-west Sydney.
The Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan is also being finalised which will work alongside the CPCP to create koala movement corridors and allow koalas to travel more safely throughout the region.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said one of the leading threats to koala populations in the wild, is the loss and destruction of their habitat.
“South West Sydney is home to the only disease-free koala populations in the Sydney basin and it is one of the most important koala populations anywhere in the state,” Mr Kean said.
“As this part of Sydney continues to grow these recommendations will guide future development in the area and ensure koala habitat and wildlife corridors are protected in perpetuity.”
The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan and Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan are expected to be finalised and released in 2022.
More than one million plant specimens kept for research by leading scientists will be housed at a recently opened herbarium facility at the Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan.
Residents facing the difficult task of cleaning up after extraordinary flooding across the state will be able to take flood-generated waste to the tip for free.