NSW’s most significant koala populations under threat from logging plans  

NPA NSW is concerned that Forestry Corporation is fast tracking plans to clear-fell some of NSW’s most important koala habitat in the Coffs Harbour-North Bellingen region. 

‘We are calling on the shareholder ministers of the Forestry Corporation, the Minister for Agriculture and the Treasurer, to immediately suspend planned clear felling operations in Pine Creek and Tuckers Nob State Forests, said NPA President Dr Grahame Douglas.  

Forestry Corporation admits that it hasn’t yet wiped out all threatened species in NSW 

National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcomes NSW’s taxpayer-owned Forestry Corporation’s public acknowledgement that our state forests still offer suitable habitat for iconic threatened species, including koalas, yellow-bellied gliders, parma wallabies, and quolls.  

NPA NSW says Forestry Corporation’s decision to log old growth, rainforest, and koala feed trees in Great Koala National Park logging cope is appalling

Gary Dunnett, CEO of National Parks Association of NSW stated ‘With an impending election, one where the alternate government has signaled strong support for the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), it is entirely inappropriate that native forests proposed for permanent protection be logged’.

Forestry Corporation’s last dash to log koala habitat on the mid-North Coast

Danielle Ryan and James Sherwood, Conservation Campaigners

“They are rushing. They can see the end is coming,” says koala expert John Pile. He is referring to Forestry Corporation’s overzealous response to the recently renewed North Coast Wood Supply Agreement, which allows logging to continue for another five years.

The mood amongst local campaigners living in the proposed Great Koala National Park region is grim, as they watch Forestry Corporation slowly chip away at public forests known as core koala habitat.

Overall, there are 20 State Forests in the proposed area for The Great Koala National Park which have been designated for logging, as ‘proposed’, ‘planned’ or ‘active’. As of July 2022, Forestry Corporation are actively harvesting three State Forests in the area, Clouds Creek (Compartments 30, 31, 32, 33), Ellis (3, 4, 5, 6) and Thumb Creek (5,6) and have approval for four more Bagawa (1), Boambee (4,5,6,7), Collombati (9,10) and Conglomerate (23).

Prosecution Of Forestry Corporation Shows They Are Unfit To Manage Our State Forests

The Land and Environment Court’s decision to fine NSW Forestry Corporation for destroying koala habitat at Cattle Creek near Coffs Harbour shows Forestry Corporation is woefully unfit for managing our State Forests. 

The Great Koala National Park, an initiative of the National Parks Association of NSW, calls for the immediate end to all logging on public native forests in NSW, in light of the court’s decision. 

Return of Country in the Border Ranges

Ashley Love , NPA Coffs Harbour Branch and Dailan Pugh OAM, North East Forest Alliance

The Federal Court of Australia made a consent determination in 2007 recognising the Githabul People’s Native Title rights and interests over 1,120 km2, in 9 National Parks and 13 State Forests, in the headwaters of the Richmond and Clarence Rivers in north-east NSW.