Legislation to create the Great Koala National Park has been introduced to NSW Parliament by the Minns Labor Government, revealing new details about how the park will protect koalas while keeping forests open for people to explore and enjoy.
The National Park Estate (Great Koala National Park Reservations) Bill 2026 will add more than 178,000 hectares of state forest and other Crown land to the national park estate on the NSW Mid North Coast, protecting important habitat for an estimated 12,000 koalas, 36,000 gliders and more than 100 threatened species.
Combined with existing national parks and reserves, it will be one of the largest parks in NSW, creating a protected area spanning more than 475,000 hectares.
The Bill includes different reserve categories across the park, allowing a wide range of recreational activities to continue alongside conservation.
Most of the newly added state forest and Crown land will be reserved as national park, ensuring long-term protection of important environmental and cultural values. Thirteen per cent of the added land will be designated regional park, supporting more intensive recreation and community activities.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a range of activities including bushwalking, trail running, camping, kayaking, canoeing, horse riding, trail-bike riding, four-wheel driving, fishing and mountain-bike riding, as well as dog walking in select reserves.
The reserve categories have been informed by feedback from the community and recreational groups about how they currently use these forests and what they want to see in the future. This highlighted strong support for protecting wildlife and maintaining recreational access.
The Bill allows the Minister for the Environment to approve motor racing events on existing roads in regional parks within the Great Koala National Park in appropriate circumstances, recognising the long history of car rally events in the region.
The Minns Labor Government continues to support affected workers and communities every step of the way. A comprehensive support package is in place for those workers and businesses, including redundancy support, retraining and upskilling assistance, relocation support, and access to financial and legal guidance and mental health services.
The Bill includes a provision enabling Forestry Corporation staff to be appointed to suitable roles within NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, helping retain valuable local skills, experience and knowledge within the region.
The final creation of the Great Koala National Park is conditional on the Clean Energy Regulator’s registration of the carbon project.
Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:
“The Great Koala National Park is one of the most important things we can do to save koalas in NSW. It is also about creating an area that people can explore and enjoy for generations.
“From bushwalking and canoeing to mountain-bike riding and camping, we’ve listened to how people want to enjoy the park and we’re making sure that while we save koalas, the Great Koala National Park can also be a world-class area for recreation.”
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
“We made a promise to create a Great Koala National Park and to support workers, and we’re delivering on that commitment. Alongside this park, we’re rolling out a comprehensive package to help support impacted forestry workers.
“We’re also legislating a pathway for eligible Forestry Corporation workers in the area to keep using their skills and strong connection to the land in the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.”
Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:
“We’ve listened closely to local families, outdoor enthusiasts and North Coast communities to get this balance right.
“The Great Koala National Park delivers crucial protection for our koalas and native wildlife while creating world-class recreation opportunities that will boost local tourism and support North Coast businesses.”
