Skip navigation

Far West parks additions provide much-needed protections for arid zone ecosystems

The conservation movement welcomes the addition of 167,000 hectares of arid-zone ecosystems to the state’s national parks estate. [1] 

Environment Minister Matt Kean announced today the government had bought two properties in the state’s Far West: Avenel/Mt Westwood Station (121,390ha) near Broken Hill and Koonaburra Station (45,534ha) near Ivanhoe. 

These are the latest in a string of recent national parks additions in the Far West, including Langidoon and Metford sheep stations (~60,000ha) near Broken Hill in June [2] and Narriearra Station (~153,000ha) in the far northwest mid-last year. [3]  

“Mr Kean has made a significant contribution to the conservation estate since he became Environment Minister in 2019, adding 520,000ha in a little over two years,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said. 

“We always welcome new parks but this is particularly significant because of its scale and the range of ecosystems and species it will protect. 

“By securing this property, Minister Kean has more than doubled his pledge to add 200,000ha to the reserve system.” 

Avenel national park will protect almost 50 different ecosystems and plant communities and 30 threatened species, including the Australian bustard, dusky hopping-mouse and eastern fat-tailed gecko. 

Koonaburra national park will protect acacia melvillei shrublands and Sandhill Pine Woodlands, both of which are threatened ecological communities.   

“Arid and semi-arid ecosystems of the Far West are some of the most poorly protected in the state,” Mr Gambian said. “These additions will go some way to addressing that shortcoming.” 

References 

[1] National park land boosted by purchase of two huge properties in state's west, ABC, 26-10-21.  

[2] NSW buys 60,000 hectares of farmland near Broken Hill for outback nature reserve, The Guardian, 7-6-21   

[3] NSW buys outback station in state's largest single property purchase for a national park, ABC, 27-6-20 

 

Continue Reading

Read More

$15 million in taxpayer money used to cut down endangered glider and koala habitat. Past time to stop subsidising native forest logging.

December 01, 2023

1st December 2023  The release of Forestry Corporations' Annual report, which shows that taxpayers will again be asked to spend $15 million to subsidise native forest logging, has today been labelled “a damning indictment on our state” by Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC) CEO Jacqui Mumford ...

Read more

Climate bill sets foundation for a cleaner and greener NSW

November 30, 2023

29th November 2023  The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today welcomed the passing of the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill.   “This is a milestone in the shift to a clean, green energy system powered by the wind...

Read more