Premier Chris Minns’ government decided to halt logging in key koala habitats.Credit:Kate Geraghty
The creation of the park was a key Labor election promise,but in recent months scientists and activists have been concerned loggers with the state-owned Forestry Corporation have been instead targeting key habitat areas inside the mooted park and other state forests to extract timber before they were locked out.
Sharpe announced on Tuesday that logging in koala hubs within the boundaries of the proposed park had been halted on September 1.
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“The creation of the Great Koala National Park is essential to saving koalas from extinction in NSW,” Sharpe said. It is expected community consultation in the area will continue until late next year.
Nature Conservation Council acting chief executive Dr Brad Smith said the decision was a historic step for the Minns government.
“What we’ve seen today is ministers Sharpe and[Natural Resources Minister Tara] Moriarty recognise and respond to the community who want to protect their local forests,koalas and First Nations heritage from the devastating impact of logging,” Smith said.