Protected areas of New South Wales

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Template:Use Australian English The Protected areas of New South Wales include both terrestrial and marine protected areas. As of June 2020 there are 225 national parks in New South Wales.[1] A number established since the late 1970s followed campaigns by local residents and environmentalists.[2]

Based on the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD) 2020 data there are 2136 separate terrestrial protected areas with a total land area of 7,696,641 hectares (19,018,810 acres) (9.61% of the state's area).[3] CAPAD data also shows 18 marine protected areas with a total area of 348,849 hectares (862,020 acres), covering 39.63% of NSW waters.[3]

History

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New South Wales established the first known protected area in Australia, Royal National Park in 1879. The formation of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1967 saw a bid in the conservation of the state's diversity of natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Today New South Wales contains more than 16.4 million acres within 870 protected areas, as well as 225 different national parks, each with their own pristine beauty and tranquil scenery.

New conservation areas

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In June 2020 the Government of New South Wales acquired 153,415 ha (379,100 acres),[4] or 1,534 km2 (592 sq mi)[5] of private land for a new national park, when it purchased Narriearra station in the state's far north-west,[4] subsequently named the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park. It is the largest ever purchase of private land for conservation in the state,[5] and provides 90 percent of the habitat of the endangered grey grasswren. The Dingo Fence on the border with Queensland forms the northern boundary of the property.[6]

The second largest acquisition ever was made in October 2021, Avenel/Mount Westwood station, north of Broken Hill, comprising 121,390 hectares (300,000 acres).[7] A further 60,416 hectares (149,290 acres) of private land, Langidoon and Metford stations, located 65 kilometres east of Broken Hill was also purchased[8] and gazetted in 2021.[9] Koonaburra station, 45,534 hectares (112,520 acres) located between Ivanhoe and Cobar, was also purchased and gazetted in the same year.[9][10]

In the 2023, 2019 and 2015 New South Wales state elections, the state Labor party proposed the creation of a Great Koala National Park. At the 2019 and 2023 elections, the Labor party proposed the Great Koala National Park again in addition to a Georges River Koala National Park in south west Sydney. In 2023 they were elected to government with leader Chris Minns and environment minister Penny Sharpe so planning for these projects has been taking place.[11][12][13][14][15]

Terrestrial protected areas

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National Parks

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National parks are managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment of New South Wales.

Central West & Orana

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Far West

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Hunter & Central Coast

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Illawarra-Shoalhaven

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New England-North West

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North Coast

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Riverina-Murray

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Southeast & Tablelands

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Sydney & Surrounds

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Nature Reserves

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Nature Reserves are managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of Environment and Climate Change of New South Wales.

Central West & Orana

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Far West

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Hunter & Central Coast

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Illawarra-Shoalhaven

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New England-North West

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North Coast

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Riverina-Murray

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Southeast & Tablelands

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Sydney & Surrounds

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State Conservation Areas

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State Conservation Areas, formerly referred to as State Recreation Areas, are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Central West & Orana

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Far West

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Hunter & Central Coast

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Illawarra-Shoalhaven

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New England-North West

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North Coast

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Riverina-Murray

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Southeast & Tablelands

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Sydney & Surrounds

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Regional Parks

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Regional Parks are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Far West

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Hunter & Central Coast

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Illawarra-Shoalhaven

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North Coast

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Riverina-Murray

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Sydney & Surrounds

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Aboriginal Areas

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Aboriginal Areas are managed by local Aboriginal communities and the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Central West & Orana

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Far West

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Hunter & Central Coast

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Illawarra-Shoalhaven

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New England-North West

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North Coast

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Sydney & Surrounds

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Historic Sites

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Historic Sites are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Central West & Orana

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Far West

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North Coast

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Riverina-Murray

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Southeast & Tablelands

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Sydney & Surrounds

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State Parks

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State Parks are managed by the Land and Property Management Authority.

Karst Conservation Reserves

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Four Karst Conservation Reserves are managed by the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.

Marine protected areas

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Marine Parks

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Marine Parks are managed by the New South Wales Marine Parks Authority.[16]

Aquatic reserves

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Aquatic reserves are managed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. "Home". NSW National Parks. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. McIntyre, Iain (4 November 2020). "Environmental Blockading in Australia and Around the World - Timeline 1974-1997". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "CAPAD 2020". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Redfearn, Graham (27 June 2020). "NSW makes record land purchase for new national park". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "New Australia national park for rare species". BBC News. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  6. Mabin, Saskia (27 June 2020). "NSW buys outback station in state's largest single property purchase for a national park". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. "Massive NSW outback stations turned into national parks to save flora and fauna". ABC News. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  8. "New outback reserve to protect diverse western wilderness". NSW Environment and Heritage. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "New parks and additions to parks". NSW Environment and Heritage. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. "Big boost to national parks in Western NSW". NSW Environment and Heritage. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  11. Gerathy, Sarah (17 March 2015). "NSW election 2015: Parks, koalas, renewables central to Labor's environment plan". Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  12. Cockburn, Paige (22 March 2019) [21 March 2019]. "They can't talk and don't vote — but their fate will feature in the NSW election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2025. Labor would also create a national park for koalas in south-western Sydney and have committed to the Great Koala National Park on the North Coast, if elected.
  13. Parmeter, Nick; Poole, Fiona; Rubbo, Luisa (1 April 2023). "Great Koala National Park to go ahead following Labor's NSW election win — here's what you need to know". ABC Coffs Coast. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025 – via ABC News.
  14. "Koala national park promised by NSW Labor". SBS News. AAP. 30 September 2018. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  15. Kozaki, Danuta (4 March 2023). "NSW Labor's pledge to create Georges River Koala National Park welcomed by conservation groups". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  16. "Marine parks". Marine protected areas. NSW Department of Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  17. "Aquatic reserves". Marine Protected Areas. NSW Department of Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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