Emotions running high in proposed area for Great Koala National Park  

James Sherwood, NPA Conservation Campaigner

Concerns for high value habitat in the Great Koala National Park  

Four months since the new state government took office, we are no closer to the Great Koala National Park’s establishment. There is a lack of clarity around the process for the park’s creation, which has led to locals questioning whether the integrity of the proposed park’s values will remain intact.  

Marine campaign update Spring 2023

Danielle Ryan, NPA NSW Conservation Campaigner

A new policy era for marine — growing appetite for marine advocacy  

NPA NSW is keen to seize on the incumbent government’s objectives to deliver the 30×30 target and growing community aspirations for the creation of more marine sanctuaries. This campaign update details the rise of Ocean Legend and filmmaker Valerie Taylor’s String of Pearls campaign and the newly created Friends of Bongin Bongin, a collective of swimmer groups who formed earlier in the year to create a proposal for a marine sanctuary in Mona Vale, after witnessing a decline in fish in the area.  

Nature Kids Spring 2023

Life in a Hollow  

written by David Gullan & illustrated by Suzanne Houghton  

Reviewed by Iris (age 8) 

Have you ever wondered about how animals find their homes? If so, this is definitely the book for you! Life in a Hollow follows the story of a tree hollow and its residents. We learn how tree hollows are formed and how different animals make one tree hollow their home over time. The book has beautiful illustrations that give us a sense of the diversity of the Aussie bush. It also has a glossary so you can learn facts about the animals in the story. 

Milton Branch News – 2023 Legends Dinner

Wendy Buckingham

First published Mid North Coast Branch Newsletter No. 104, July 2023. Reprinted with permission.

One of the highlights of our year is the annual Legends dinner. This is where members gather to honour those who have made outstanding contributions to Milton NPA as activity leaders, committee members and organisers. It is also an opportunity to have a great meal and a good time!

Book Review: Underground Lovers – Encounters with Fungi

by Alison Pouliot, NewSouth Publishing, University of NSW Press Ltd 2023 

Review by NSW NPA Environmental Book Club 

Pouliot is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable writer whose life work is studying fungi. Underground Lovers introduces us to this amazing world. Previously we may have been astonished by unexpected encounters with beautiful or weird fungi in the bush or our gardens. We’re probably aware that fungi do important work in complex ecosystems but may not know much more. She introduces us to the basic facts about the different types and their role in recycling and networking in the ‘subterrain’ of plant communities. She champions the study of this third ‘kingdom’ besides flora and fauna.  

Snowy 2.0 Doesn’t Stack Up

The National Parks Association NSW (NPA) launched a short film exposing the destruction that the Snowy 2.0 project is inflicting on the unique and fragile ecosystem of Kosciuszko National Park https://youtu.be/mcJAyMCx_lc.

“The film documents the massive environmental damage Snowy 2.0 has inflicted on Kosciuszko, as well as Snowy Hydro’s shameful failure to minimise the impact of their construction works on the national park” stated NPA CEO Gary Dunnett