Source: NSW Minister for the Environment

Carr Government protects one million hectares in three years following northeast forestry announcement

12 November 1998

The Minister for the Environment, Pam Allan, today hailed the Carr Labor Government’s declaration of 85 new national parks and reserves in the north east of the State as a dramatic and breathtaking step for conservation and for the greening of the next century.

"In an unprecedented move, the Government that came to office promising 24 national parks has created 150 national parks and other reserves," Ms Allan said.

"This latest declaration, in a single decision, takes in for protection about 380,00 hectares which is nearly a third bigger than the Blue Mountains and Kanangra-Boyd National Parks combined."

"Today’s decision means that since the Carr Government took office very nearly 1,000,000 hectares have been added to the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s estate."

"It also means jobs and a heavily strengthened National Parks and Wildlife Service giving greater protection of the environment."

"The whole community will benefit from this decision, which will see icon areas with World Heritage potential protected, as well as the vital habitat of all threatened and vulnerable species listed in this part of NSW."

"This decision also means the addition of more than 100 jobs to the National Parks and Wildlife Service workforce to help manage and provide new facilities in this new suite of new parks and additions."

Ms Allan said special areas to be protected as part of the agreement included the former Goonengerry and Mebbin State Forests, resulting in the protection of significant areas of Koala habitat in northern NSW.

"Closer to Coffs Harbour, the new Urumbilum and Orara National Parks will protect magnificent old growth, rainforest and flooded gum areas which are poorly represented in the existing reserve system."

"This historic agreement will expand areas such as Toonumbar National Park to included rainforest ecosystems worthy of World Heritage listing, while Cunnuwarra National Park will now link New England and Oxley Wild Rivers National Parks to form an important wildlife corridor for threatened species across the Northern Tablelands."

Ms Allan said the new parks and additions would provide a broad range of new opportunities for nature-based tourism in the region.

"These areas are truly beautiful and highly biodiverse and the State Government will be encouraging locals and visitors from further afield to find out for themselves what makes these areas so special."

"To that end, a priority of the additional NPWS staff members will be the provision of world-class visitor facilities, as well as the upgrade and maintenance of a network of access roads and walking trails," Ms Allan said.

"More than $5 million has already been spent in the region over the past three years in providing facilities in places such as North Brother in Dooregan National Park and an upgrade of facilities and access to the stunning Wollombi Gorge and Falls in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park."

Ms Allan said generations to come would applaud the Carr Government for ensuring the protection of these special places in perpetuity.

"The State Government has consulted all stakeholders involved in this complex process and has come up with a balanced outcome that provides much-needed certainty to the timber industry and ensures the protection of some of the most biodiverse areas in this part of NSW."

"The National Parks and Wildlife Service is to be congratulated for its hard work in both the negotiations and in the comprehensive assessments of these areas in the lead-up to negotiations."

"No other government in Australia has taken such a dynamic decision for the environment and it is a remarkable achievement — a great one — for nature conservation globally."

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