Contact: Liz Jeremy
Email: coffs@npansw.org.au
About Coffs Coast Branch
Coffs Coast Branch operates on the Mid North Coast in the Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca and parts of Clarence Valley local government areas. This is a region renowned for its outstanding natural values and scenic beauty.
This diverse landscape is home to subtropical and warm temperate rainforests, including parts of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, which shelter ancient plant lineages and provide vital habitat for threatened fauna. These forests play a crucial role in maintaining healthy water catchments, protecting soils, and supporting cultural and recreational opportunities.
The region is also home to the Solitary Islands Marine Park, where warm tropical currents meet cooler temperate waters to create one of Australia’s most biologically rich marine environments. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, rocky shores, and estuaries support a wealth of marine life, from migratory whales and dolphins to seabirds and threatened shorebirds.
On land, the Coffs Coast supports exceptional biodiversity, with more than 370 threatened species recorded in the broader NSW North Coast bioregion. A key conservation priority is the koala, with the Coffs Harbour area home to one of NSW’s most significant populations.
This landscape is also Gumbaynggirr Country, home to one of the largest coastal Aboriginal Nations in New South Wales. The Gumbaynggirr people maintain a living cultural connection to the rainforests, rivers, and marine environments of the Mid North Coast, with traditional knowledge continuing to guide caring for Country. Sacred sites, songlines, and language are embedded across the region, reinforcing its cultural as well as ecological importance.
Branch members participate in our local activities program that includes local bushwalks and citizen science activities. Branch members also meet on a monthly basis to hear guest speakers and participate in campaign planning.
Great Koala National Park – DECLARED!
Historic achievement! On 7 September 2025, the NSW Premier, joined by the Environment Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Minister for the North Coast, announced the establishment of the Great Koala National Park – a momentous victory representing more than a decade of determined advocacy by NPA, local communities, and conservationists.
The Government has declared a 476,000-hectare park including the 176,000 hectares advocated by NPA, in addition to incorporating the New England national parks. This massive reserve will protect one of Australia’s most significant wild koala populations and create a connected landscape from escarpment to coast, securing habitat essential not only for koalas but for hundreds of other threatened species in the region.
For over a decade, NPA has highlighted the urgent need to address the decline of koalas through stronger habitat protection. Coffs Coast Branch played a crucial role in this victory by developing comprehensive mapping resources that informed the State Government’s Community Advisory Panel throughout its deliberations. Our branch also conducted active campaigning and fundraising for years, and mounted a successful business support campaign during 2025.
The road between NPA’s original 2015 report to the NSW Government and today’s decision has been long and often frustrating, but emphatically worth it. While there are still challenges to work through including transition processes for local timber workers, this represents an incredible moment for Australia’s National Parks
Whispers of Wilderness – Expanding Our Reach
A new City of Coffs Harbour Environmental Levy funded project will transform the success of a local environmental film into tangible community engagement
When “Whispers of Wilderness” premiered to a packed Jetty Theatre in April 2025, it created common ground between diverse groups – bringing together local businesspeople, community leaders, Traditional Owners, marine scientists, and environmental advocates around shared values and love for our coastal home.
Now, building on that success, the NPA Coffs Coast Branch is launching “Whispers of Wilderness: Our Coast, Our Stories, Our Community” – a comprehensive project that will take the film’s MESSAGE directly to community halls, small groups, businesses, families, and digital platforms across the region.
The initiative, funded through a $50,000 Environmental Levy grant, recognises that meaningful environmental engagement needs ongoing connection and relevance to everyone’s daily lives.
“The Coffs Coast sits at a unique intersection where environmental sustainability and economic prosperity are fundamentally interconnected,” says Grahame Douglas, President of the NPA Coffs Coast Branch. “Our marine estate contributes $356 million annually to the local economy. This project broadens community understanding of how environmental stewardship supports long-term prosperity and wellbeing.”
The project encompasses five interconnected components:
Community Screenings will bring the film to halls and local groups, featuring interactive discussions with film participants and other local experts.
Business Engagement will foster partnerships on sustainable tourism products that showcase our natural assets while supporting conservation outcomes.
Marine Park Research will assess the Solitary Islands Marine Park’s values and opportunities, providing evidence-based recommendations that support both conservation and the industries depending on healthy marine ecosystems.
Wellbeing Resources will create a “Coffs Coast Nature” colouring book and jigsaw puzzle designed for all ages – from children discovering local nature to older community members seeking mindful activities. These resources connect environmental themes with wellbeing benefits.
A new website will serve as a permanent home for the film, educational resources, downloadable materials, and conservation information – ensuring long-term community impact.
Over the coming months, community screenings and events will take place across the region. There are many ways to participate:
- Attend screenings and community events
- Host a screening at your community hall or group
- Contribute skills or expertise to help deliver the project
- Join the NPA Coffs Coast Branch and become part of the team
- Stay informed about upcoming activities
Whether you want to volunteer, help run project activities, or simply be part of your local conservation community, the Coffs Coast Branch welcomes your involvement.
To find out about upcoming events, express interest in joining the branch or contributing to the project, contact the Coffs Coast Branch at coffs@npansw.org.au
Marine Park Advocacy
We are currently preparing a comprehensive report for the upcoming government review of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. This critical work will help ensure continued protection of one of Australia’s most biologically diverse marine environments, where tropical and temperate waters create exceptional marine biodiversity.
Citizen Science
In 2024, our branch conducted a six-month citizen science training program for branch members and local forest campaigners. Once again funded through Coffs Harbour Council’s environmental levy, this highly successful program resulted in new networks, increased skills and focused local survey efforts. The branch now has an ongoing Citizen Science Signal group staying in touch on local survey efforts, opportunities and forest issues.
Bushwalking
Appreciating the rich environment of Country is integral to bushwalking with the group. Favourite locations include Bongil Bongil National Park tracks where old growth forest stands tall, Dorrigo Rainforest Centre with tracks along pristine, high creeks and waterfalls, Muttonbird Island seascape, Yuraygir National Park heathland colours and Yarriahappini Mountain to Sea trail.
Volunteering
Our work relies on the dedicated efforts of volunteers. These rare people join us to help our work, to protect nature, for a variety of reasons and contribute in large and small ways. Regardless of whether you can only give an hour a month or have much more time to support our work, contact us for more information on volunteering with National Parks Association.
Planning for the Future
We are organising a branch planning day to coordinate our exciting upcoming activities and chart our path forward. This collaborative session will focus on our crucial role as the Great Koala National Park establishment progresses, while also exploring how to engage more fully with our membership base and build our popular bushwalking program to maximize community impact across the Coffs Coast region.
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