MEDIA RELEASE
8 October 2026
Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC), the state's leading environmental advocacy organisation, welcomes the protection of more than 70,000 hectares of threatened species' habitat in far west NSW, and congratulates the Federal and NSW Governments for acknowledging the need to conserve nature to benefit First Nations, wildlife and habitat, and future generations.
What happened: Today, the Federal and NSW Governments announced the joint purchase of Pulgamurtie Station near Broken Hill, stating it will protect more than 74,000 hectares of outback landscape, including two pink lakes, provide home to more than 70 threatened species, like the brolga and pink cockatoo, and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Quotes attributable to NCC Senior Forest Campaigner, Clancy Barnard:
"We are pleased to see the State and Federal Governments acknowledge that nature in NSW is under threat by cumulative stressors, and that it needs restoring and protecting.
"Protecting critical habitat in inland NSW is increasingly urgent as the region faces cumulative threats from unfettered habitat clearing, climate change and invasive species.
"Broadscale habitat clearing is a huge problem for inland NSW, and turning western landscape into national parkland is exactly what needs to happen.
"This purchase is a positive example of governments making decisions that benefit people, the natural environment and future generations.
"We've been campaigning for years to restore and protect the state's wetlands, some of which will be included in the recent acquisition. This is critical, especially as we face devastating bird flu.
"Habitat of threatened species will be protected, and not cleared, now that National Parks and Wildlife Service is managing this location.
"NCC is calling for more strategic conservation efforts like this, and additional funding put towards enhancing the national parks reserve system and restoring more corridors for wildlife.
"We are also pleased to hear NPWS will work closely with members of the Malyangapa Aboriginal Community in the planning stages. It is incredibly important to include First Nations expertise and guidance in all conservation projects.
"We hope this this project will help reverse concerning biodiversity loss in NSW."
