NSW Labor has slammed the government for not providing koala populations in outer South Western Sydney the protection they need to survive and thrive in a national park.
The opposition claims the government ignored a key recommendation from the parliamentary inquiry into koala populations and habitat.
Instead of creating the Georges River Koala National Park, environment minister Matt Kean today announced a lesser “reserve’’ near Campbelltown.
Labor’s environment spokesperson Kate Washington says the community has been calling for the establishment of the national park for years, and it was NSW Labor policy before the last election.
“Instead of protecting the 4,000 hectares proposed by Labor and the local community, the government’s announcement today covers only 1,885 hectares,” Ms Washington said.
Greg Warren, Campbelltown MP and Labor’s Western Sydney spokesperson says there’s a big difference between a reserve and a national park.
“This is half the size it needs to be,” he said.
“Minister Kean must immediately implement all the inquiry recommendations and come clean about why he’s squibbed on the opportunity to designate this a national park.”
Ms Washington said that after years of pressure from Labor and a year long parliamentary inquiry, the government has turned its attention to this issue.
“But their actions are nowhere near enough. If urgent action isn’t taken, it may soon become too late for this local koala population,’’ she said.
