Southwest Sydney Koala population: NSW Government to impose development ban
A major development ban on thousands of hectares of land will be imposed on dozens of southwest Sydney suburbs to protect the dwindling Koala population. SEE WHERE THE BANS WILL BE ENFORCED HERE.
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The NSW Government is set to impose a development ban on thousands of hectares of open space in Sydney’s south west in order to provide vital, protected habitat for the much-loved Koala population.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced at least 4315ha of land will be off limits to development under proposed environmental conservation zoning, while new controls will be imposed to prevent land and vegetation clearing.
“The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan is a once-in-a-generation commitment to protect southwest Sydney’s rich environmental assets and important koala population, while providing certainty for investment in a growing part of Sydney,” Mr Stokes said. “we’ve identified upfront the key areas that need to be protected.”
New conservation lands — including national parks and “community-based biodiversity reserves” will be established under the plan alongside an existing 1,885 hectares of koala habitat within the Georges River Koala Reserve.
While weeds, pest animals and diseases, will be managed to protect the koala colonies from bushfire and other threats.
Mr Stokes said the plan “prioritises and protects urban bushland before urban development”.
While Environment Minister Matt Kean said $84 million will be spent to plant 100,000 trees in the Georges River Koala Reserve and install 120km of fencing “to ensure Sydney’s largest and healthiest koala population is protected”.
Under the draft plan, a series of strategic conservation areas are proposed through suburbs including Mowbray Park, Thirlmere, Cawdor and Camden South, as well as Werombi and through to Silverdale and Wallacia.
But shadow Western Sydney spokesman Greg Warren hit out at the government’s plan, describing it as “half-baked” with the introduction of a reserve near Campbelltown.
Mr Warren said the government ignored the recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry, which called for the creation of the Georges River Koala National Park.
“There is a big difference between a reserve and a national park — this is half the size it needs to be,” he said.
“Minister Kean must immediately implement all the Inquiry’s recommendations and come clean about why he’s squibbed on the opportunity to designate this a National Park.”