The NSW Government is inviting the public to have their say on recreational opportunities in the proposed Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast.

The park – a key election promise from the Minns Labor Government – will protect more than 100 threatened species, including more than 12,000 koalas and 36,000 greater gliders, while enhancing visitor experiences and supporting local economies. The park will also safeguard 66 other threatened animals and 37 rare plant species, including southern and yellow-bellied gliders, glossy black cockatoos, and unique orchids.

The government is particularly keen to hear from 4WD clubs about how the area is used and what access and recreational opportunities are important to them. Feedback is also being sought from hiking and trail-running groups, mountain bikers, horse riders, shooting and archery clubs, sporting car clubs, local councils, Aboriginal communities, and environment groups.

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“The Great Koala National Park is an election commitment, and we want the community right at the centre of shaping what it becomes. Locals know this landscape best, and their ideas will help create a park people feel real ownership of and want to use,” said Janelle Saffin, Minister for the North Coast. “Done well, this park will also be a major tourism drawcard – supporting local businesses, creating jobs and delivering long-term economic benefits for communities right across the North Coast.”

Steve Whan, Acting Minister for the Environment, added: “The Great Koala National Park will protect more than 100 threatened species, but it’s not just about conservation. The park will be a recreational hotspot for locals and visitors alike. We want to hear from people who use and relax in the footprint of the forests and surrounding landscapes that make up the park.”

An online survey on the NSW Have Your Say website is now open for anyone who currently uses the area’s State forests and reserves, as well as those who may visit in the future.

The Great Koala National Park will include multiple reserves, each with rules for what activities are allowed. Covering more than 475,000 hectares from Kempsey to Grafton and inland to Ebor, it will combine existing reserves with 176,000 hectares of new protected land to create connected, high-quality habitat.

The NSW Government has committed $80 million in the 2023-24 State Budget to develop the park, with an additional $60 million provided to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to support its establishment.

MORE Read the proposal here