Coffs Coast residents show little hunger for Great Koala National Park

He may have only been elected to power at the weekend, but Premier Chris Minns is already facing scrutiny over plans for a massive Koala national park on the Coffs Coast.

A number of people gathered outside Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh's office to call for, among other things, the creation of a Great Koala National Park. Picture: Tim Jarrett

The Coffs Coast is bracing for the imposition of a Great Koala National Park despite the community broadly rejecting the plan every time it’s been taken to an election.

The koala park plan was once again trotted out by Labor and the Greens in the 2023 state election - yet the electorates which would be impacted by the park all voted strongly for the Nationals.

Coffs Harbour Nationals MP Gurmesh Singh received almost as many primary votes (14,927) as all the other six candidates combined (15,416) at close of counting on Saturday night.

Chris Minns went to the polls promising Labor would spend $80 million to create a Great Koala National Park between Kempsey and Coffs Harbour.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns and his family are seen at their local cafe in Kogarah after winning the State Election. Picture: Gaye Gerard / via NCA Newswire

Asked if the local community actually wanted the park, Mr Singh said “they didn’t vote for it, that’s for sure”.

Previous iterations for the park have called for it to be formed from 140,000 hectares of existing national parks, and topped with 176,000ha from the State Forest estate.

Labor has said the proposed area for the park would protect roughly 20 per cent of the state’s koala population.

Australia Forestry Products Association has previously warned the Great Koala National Park would bring the closure of the hardwood timber industry on the Mid North Coast.

Labor has said the proposed area for the park would protect roughly 20 per cent of the state’s koala population.

“The first thing we would have to do is look very carefully at what Labor is proposing,” Mr Singh said.

Gurmesh Singh celebrating with supporters at Coffs Harbour on election night. Picture: Chris Knight

“My understanding is that they have committed to do a study, not to do a park.”

According to Mr Minn’s website, expert scientific advice will be sought to help guide the process to develop a Great Koala National Park.

“After 12 years of removing environmental protections, increased rates of land clearing and the ongoing koala wars between the Liberals and Nationals in NSW, the protection status of koalas has gone from ‘not threatened’ to ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’, with koalas on track to extinction in NSW by 2050,” Mr Minns states.

Ruby Oliver-King and others protesting outside Mr Singh's office in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Tim Jarrett

“The funding ($80m) will go towards an important consultation process with all stakeholders that will include an independent economic assessment of the park’s impact on local jobs and communities.”

Park proponents say the sanctuary would protect koala habitat in five local government areas: Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour City, Bellingen Shire, Nambucca Valley and Kempsey Shire - and does not include any plantation forest or private land.

Backers of a Great Koala National Park hope the change in government will clear the way for it to become a reality. Picture: Tim Jarrett

A gateway visitor centre is proposed south of Coffs Harbour on the Pacific Highway adjacent to Bongil Bongil National Park.

Mr Singh - elected to his second term on Saturday and what will be his first in Opposition - conceded the Nationals would adapt to the change in government.

“It does change the nature of our role slightly,” he said.

“We have to ensure they (Labor) do the best job for all of NSW and not just Sydney, which has been the experience in the past.”