NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service buys 4500 hectares to protect koala habitat

The purchase by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of 4500 hectares of bushland near Port Macquarie will protect koala habitat and secure safe corridors for koalas to move through the landscape.

The property, located west of Port Macquarie and within the traditional lands of the Biripi nation, occupies a critical position between four existing NPWS reserves and between two known koala populations at Comboyne and South Kempsey.

The property is already home to between 30 and 60 koalas.

The land also provides suitable habitat for at least 45 threatened species, including the endangered Hasting River mouse and the spotted-tailed quoll, hollow-dependent species such as the greater glider, and a range of birds including the glossy black cockatoo and wompoo fruit-dove.

Connecting these reserves will safeguard the health and resilience of the habitat.

The acquisition will also enhance protection for declared wilderness areas that abut the property, which form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

The Mid North Coast is home to two of the 10 stronghold koala populations in NSW.

Acquisition of the property was funded under the NSW Koala Strategy.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe advised “Opportunities to acquire large parcels of private land featuring koala habitat along the NSW coast are extremely rare, so this is a huge win for koala conservation.

“Permanent protection of this property as part of the national parks estate will not only secure the koala-preferred habitat– it will also enable us to lessen the increasing and cumulative threats faced by koalas.”

“With active management of fire, weeds and feral animals, we will continue to maintain and improve this habitat for koalas and other native species.”