This article relates to the ongoing debate on Australian Rural & Regional News: Open for Debate: Koalas. Australian Rural & Regional News asked a few questions of Minister Sharpe. A departmental spokesperson responded. See below the release.

The Hon. Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment (NSW), The Hon. Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture (NSW) and Regional NSW, Joint Media Release, 12 September 2023

The NSW Government has announced the process to establish the Great Koala National Park, as well as a halt to timber harvesting operations in the 106 koala hubs within the area being assessed for the park.

The creation of the Great Koala National Park on the NSW Mid North Coast is Labor’s largest environmental commitment and a crucial part of the overall strategy to save koalas from extinction in NSW.

The Government’s action will balance our commitment to protecting environmentally sensitive areas with the development of a plan to sustain a viable timber industry and jobs.

While the work to establish the park is carried out, the Government will implement a halt to timber harvesting in koala hubs within the assessment area for the park. Operations were paused on Friday 1 September 2023, by agreement with Forestry Corporation of NSW.

The 106 koala hubs cover more than 8,400 hectares of state forest. Koala hubs are areas where there is strong evidence of multi-generational, high-density populations of the iconic animal. Koala hubs cover approximately 5 per cent of the Great Koala National Park assessment area, but contain 42 per cent of recorded koala sightings in state forests in the assessment area since 2000.

The Government will immediately discuss with Forestry Corporation of NSW the next steps of the cessation and determine timber supply options.

The process to establish the park will involve three key components:

• An independent economic and social assessment which will consider the impacts on local jobs and communities;
• The establishment of industry, community and Aboriginal advisory panels to provide input to the creation of the park; and,
• An expert environmental and cultural heritage assessment to safeguard the unique environmental and cultural heritage of the region and ensure the Great Koala National Park aligns with the highest standards of environmental protection and respect for cultural heritage.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“The creation of the Great Koala National Park is essential to saving koalas from extinction in NSW.

“The Government is taking serious steps towards its creation and will work closely with the community, Aboriginal organisations and industry as the areas for inclusion in the park are assessed.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty:

“The Great Koala National Park is a high priority and we are working hard across Government to establish this significant undertaking.

“The Government commits to working closely with the industry to develop a blueprint for the future timber sector that accommodates both the park and the production of timber products.”

Questions from Australian Rural & Regional News

Australian Rural & Regional News asked the following questions of Minister Sharpe. A departmental spokesperson responded.

ARR.News: NSW Government research has shown that “timber harvesting as practised under the comprehensive rulesets applying in the native forests of north-east NSW, is not” [a threat to koalas] (Dr Brad Law, Principal Research Scientist, DPI Forest Science).

The NSW Government has 1000 sites in an unknown number of localities with modern technology and found at least one possibly “new” colony. You (Minister Sharpe) have criticised the previous government for not conducting proper surveys.

• Why have you failed to release the results of proper surveys or even answer questions about them?
• Is it because the surveys are showing many more koalas than expected in areas where the claim that koalas numbers are in such decline that they are endangered is being used to support the cessation of forestry operations?
• How many localities have been surveyed?
• How many had no koalas?
• Why cease timber harvesting if, if it is “practised under the comprehensive rulesets applying in the native forests of north-east NSW” it is not a threat to koalas?

NSW Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson:

• The NSW Government is conducting the first field-based baseline survey of koalas across NSW.
• The purpose of the baseline is to provide an assessment of the current abundance and distribution of koalas in NSW, irrespective of land tenure.
• The NSW Government will survey up to 800 carefully-selected sites with a combination of methods between October 2022 and late 2024. 238 sites have been surveyed with at least one method, and results will be made available by June 2025 once the Baseline is complete and has been scientifically reviewed.
• Timber harvesting operations have been halted in the 106 koala hubs within the area being assessed for Great Koala National Park. Further information is available here.