New South Wales approves vast park to protect koalas

New South Wales has passed legislation to create the Great Koala National Park, protecting native forests after more than a decade of campaigning.

The park will cover more than 475,000 hectares on the Australian state's Mid North Coast, between Kempsey and Grafton. It combines existing national parks with state forest and other public land, bringing areas previously used for logging into conservation. WWF-Australia estimates that these forests are home to about 12,000 koalas and 36,000 greater gliders. The state government says the park will protect more than 100 species of plants and animals.

A key step was federal approval for a carbon-credit project that allows the state to earn money by ending commercial logging in designated forests. Logging in the proposed park area had already been paused in 2025.

The decision follows years of advocacy by conservationists, First Nations and local communities. Campaigner Ashley Love welcomed it as a major advance, while warning that gaps between protected areas remain and some surrounding forests are excluded.

The change also has costs for timber workers and businesses. The government has offered a transition support package and says affected state forestry staff will be appointed to suitable roles with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.