100 businesses write to NSW Premier Chris Minns over Great Koala National Park

More than 100 businesses have signed a letter in support of a “game-changing” plan to protect a beloved Australian animal that could become the country’s next great attraction.

More than 100 businesses on the NSW Mid-North Coast have signed a letter to Premier Chris Minns, urging the Labor government to move forward with long-running plans for a massive koala sanctuary and tourism park.

The Great Koala National Park was an election promise for NSW Labor, but delivery of the animal sanctuary and what form it will ultimately take has been marred by setbacks, including continued logging at the proposed site.

In the letter, a coalition of businesses including from the adventure tourism and hospitality sectors, have called on the Premier to deliver the full 176,00ha park proposed, which they say will become a “game-changing tourist destination.

Coffs Skydiver owner Steve Hill presenting the letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Supplied

Coffs Skydiver owner Steve Hill said his business relied on the sort of tourists the park would attract, saying “people that are interested in little fluffy koalas are interested in being in the outdoors, adventures”.

“We’ve had natural disaster after natural disaster so economically, it’s been really tough on the Mid North Coast. This region needs this kind of level of tourism,” Mr Hill said.

“If you bring in a park that goes global – something like the Great Barrier Reef – we all know it will give us the boost that we badly need.”

Matt Sparrius, owner of kayak and stand-up paddle board company C-Change, also backed the park as being “great for our business”.

“For us, it’s a no-brainer,” he said.

“The more koalas there are in the park, the more chances there are of seeing of them.

“For tourism, we will have more tourists, there will be more jobs, we can expand our business there will be other businesses that can move into that space. It will be wonderful.”

A map of the proposed Great Koala National Park. Picture: Supplied

“Getting the full Great Koala National Park is really critical for us. If we don’t get the full park, we won’t get those corridors between areas.

“Apart from the koalas, having sugar gliders will also get people out in the park, into the environment.”

The NSW government committed $80m over four years in the 2023-24 state budget to support development of the park, including independent economic, social and environmental assessments, and industry and community panels.

But key questions remain.

Chief among them is the final size of the park, which proponents want to span a whopping 176,000ha. The final size is yet to be determined by the state government, with reports of logging still taking place at the proposed site.

If delivered as proposed, the park would span from Coffs Harbour to Woolgoolga.

Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation and Mid-North Coast resident, Ken Henry, said delivery of the full park would be a boon for businesses and a “truly special destination that will put the region on the global tourism map”.

“The declaration can’t come soon enough,” the former federal bureaucrat said.

“Every moment we hesitate means losing more koalas and missing crucial opportunities for regional tourism operators to create jobs.”

WWF Australia president Judy Slatyer said the “bold and beautiful” park, if fully realised, would conserve and regenerate forests where not only 12,000 endangered koalas live, but also some 36,000 endangered greater gliders.

“Affected timber workers and regional communities need to be well supported to secure jobs, build their communities and create a future as the park is created,” she said.

Footage released earlier this year by the WWF showed logging heavily machinery continue to be operated within Sheas Nob State Forest, island from Coffs Harbour.

A previous analysis by the North East Forest Alliance claimed logging has already occurred across 7185ha within the assessment area since the state election, with another report by Wilderness Australia and the National Parks Association of NSW stating in March that a further 1924ha within the proposed park was then being logged.

Originally published as 100 businesses write to NSW Premier Chris Minns over Great Koala National Park