7th September 2025
Jacqui Mumford, CEO of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, has today applauded the Minns Labor government's announcement that the full 176 000 Ha of the Great Koala National Park will be protected from logging.
"Today's announcement of the Great Koala National Park is one of the most significant conservation victories in NSW in decades.
"We are thrilled that from tomorrow, 176,000 hectares of precious native forest, accounting for 20% of NSW's koala population, will be protected from logging.
"This is a win for nature and the local community. It is the result of more than a decade of work by communities, scientists and environmental groups.
"This park will be a defining legacy of the Minns Government, helping to secure a future for the iconic koala and building on the proud history of Labor governments creating world-class National Parks.
"This park will connect World Heritage-listed areas, creating wildlife corridors across the mid north coast.
"While it is disappointing that unsustainable logging was allowed to continue since the election, today marks a turning point. The government should be applauded for delivering on their promise in full.
"With over 90% of timber products already sourced from plantations, there is no justification for logging our public native forests.
"The transition package announced today provides the opportunity to build a sustainable, long-term future for regional NSW, with secure jobs in bushfire preparedness, ecological management and restoration, ecotourism and plantation forestry. Together, we can protect koalas and support communities with sustainable, long-term employment"
