National Parks

Koalas, rock wallabies and the Nightcap Oak are some of the iconic species set to be protected under an historic National Parks plan to declare 221 sites as Assets of Intergenerational Significance (AIS) and set a target of zero extinctions of species on the NSW National Park estate.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Threatened Species Framework was about protecting and improving the health of our threatened and iconic species for future generations.

More than 270,000 hectares has been added to the NSW national park estate, smashing the State’s target to increase the footprint by 200,000 hectares by 2021.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said the new additions – totaling 202,669 hectares – are the largest increase to national parks in a single day since 2005.

“Permanently reserving national parks is the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation in NSW,” Mr Kean said.

Our frontline defence against bushfires will be boosted thanks to more than $29 million in new funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as part of the NSW Government’s response to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

Measures funded in the package include:

The 153,415 hectare Narriearra Station in far north west NSW is the largest purchase of private land for national parks in the State’s history.

Environment Minister Matt Kean says the purchase will help protect threatened species, important habitat and wetlands.

“Narriearra Station stretches across the outback Channel Country and includes part of the Bulloo River floodplain, ephemeral wetlands and landscapes currently not found anywhere in NSW national parks,” Mr Kean said.