Great Koala National Park essential for koala’s survival in NSW: Koala Inquiry Chair
The NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean and the Minister for Forestry John Barilaro must sit down and come to an agreement to establish a Great Koala National Park after a report released today into the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed park found it would create nearly 10,000 jobs and inject over $1 billion into the economy, said Greens MP and Koala Inquiry Chair Cate Faehrmann.
“The number one threat driving koalas to extinction is habitat loss which includes logging in core koala habitat. Establishment of a Great Koala National Park would permanently preserve koala habitat which is currently subject to logging while making the mid-north coast a massive drawcard for tourists,” said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and spokesperson for Environment and Wildlife and Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Koala Populations and their Habitat.
“Gladys Berejiklian says that she wants to be the Premier who saves koalas. Well she needs to pick up this plan for a Great Koala National Park and run with it. It’s not only great for koalas, it’s great for the region and will create almost 10,000 jobs over 15 years.
“If there are two things the people of NSW want to see more of, it’s jobs and koalas. The Government has now been gifted a project that does both, and I urge them to not reject it for the sake of continuing to prop up the dying native forest logging industry.
“If this Government is going to meet its commitment to stop koalas from becoming extinct before 2050 then it must invest in bold initiatives like the Great Koala National Park now.
“Koalas can’t wait another two decades for Governments to act. It’s now or never for our koalas and this Great Koala National Park plan is a lifesaver, ” said Ms Faehrmann.
Contact: Ben Cronly 0487 247 960