The NSW Government has reached a significant milestone in establishing a new national park to protect koalas along the Georges River at Campbelltown.
Close to 1000 hectares of land have now been transferred to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The transfer involved 257 parcels comprising 916 hectares from the Office of Strategic Lands in the NSW Department of Planning.
It is in line with the NSW Government’s commitment to transfer all publicly owned land within the park’s footprint, between Long Point and Appin, to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service by September 2026.
When fully realised, the park will protect approximately 1830 hectares of land for koalas and a north-south koala movement corridor.
The park will include bushland in Long Point, Ingleburn, Minto Heights, Kentlyn, Airds, St Helens Park, Gilead and Appin.
So far, 63 per cent of the public land transfer commitment for this park has been achieved.
Further transfers will occur over time involving other public lands and as certain areas of private land are acquired.
“The protection and conservation of connected koala habitat is an important part of making sure that our precious koalas will be looked after for years to come,” says Greg Warren, the member for Campbelltown.
“This is a welcome and necessary step towards the establishment of the Georges River Koala National Park.”
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is consulting with the local Aboriginal community to name the park.
It is also ensuring the transferred lands are in a suitable condition for reservation.
The NSW Labor Government says it’s investing $80 million to protect koalas and secure their habitat in South Western Sydney.
“Koalas need connected habitat to have any future in Sydney,’’ says minister forclimate change and the environment Penny Sharpe (pictured above with Mr Warren).
“We are delivering on our commitment to protect koala habitat in the city’s south-west by establishing this national park.’’
