On behalf of Mr Jihad Dib: I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the National Park Estate (Great Koala National Park Reservations) Bill 2026. The bill represents a significant milestone in the New South Wales Government's delivery of its election commitment to establish a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. The bill will reserve over 178,000 hectares of State forest and other Crown lands under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, creating the most significant addition to the New South Wales reserve system in decades. I acknowledge the lands described in this bill are the ancestral country of the Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti Aboriginal peoples, who have maintained a continuous connection to these landscapes for thousands of years. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the important contribution of Aboriginal communities, organisations and knowledge holders in shaping the pathway to establishment of the Great Koala National Park. These lands contain places of deep cultural significance, including important cultural landscapes, songlines, campsites, gathering places and areas connected to story, ceremony and ongoing cultural practice.

The bill provides an important foundation for future joint management arrangements and stronger Aboriginal involvement in the stewardship of these lands. "Dunggiirr Jagun" means "koala country" in the language of the Gumbaynggirr people. Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti Aboriginal people helped inform the New South Wales Government's decision. They are continuing to guide decisions and management. Joint management arrangements are being developed. For the first time in New South Wales, the Great Koala National Park will engage Aboriginal rangers who are employed within Aboriginal controlled organisations. This will help build long-term capacity and skill bases within Aboriginal organisations and support genuine economic empowerment. The park will facilitate enhanced access to country and better protection of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

Koala conservation is at the heart of this park's creation. The Great Koala National Park will protect one of the largest known koala populations in New South Wales, estimated at around 12,000 healthy koalas, within a landscape rich in koala food trees and identified as important climate change refugia. As the impact of climate change becomes more pronounced, protecting refuge areas for koalas and other threatened species is increasingly important. Establishment of the park will also protect a landscape of national conservation significance for other threatened species and ecological communities. The number of threatened fauna species recorded in the Great Koala National Park is commensurate with other existing iconic and biodiverse reserves, such as the Blue Mountains National Park.

The creation of a Great Koala National Park has been the subject of extensive community interest and passionate advocacy over many years. Environmental groups, including the National Parks Association, North East Forest Alliance, North Coast Environment Council, Nambucca Valley Conservation Association, Bellingen Environment Centre, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Labor Environment Action Network, WWF Australia and the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, amongst many others, have led the campaign advocating for the park's reservation and built widespread support within the local community and across the State. I acknowledge their many years of work.

Local government, communities and recreational users have all contributed to the development of the proposal now before the House. In establishing the Great Koala National Park, the Government has sought to protect nationally significant environmental values while recognising the social, cultural and recreational values those forests support. The Government's vision is for the Great Koala National Park to be one of the most significant conservation initiatives in New South Wales as well as a must-see destination attracting visitors and contributing to the local economy. The bill gives effect to the Government's commitment to secure these values for future generations. This bill, and the creation of the park, will mean that our children's children can visit those amazing forests, walk amongst those giant trees and spot precious animals such as koalas in the wild.

The bill will commence on a day appointed by proclamation, but only after the Clean Energy Regulator has declared an eligible carbon project under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. This provision ensures the State forests identified in the bill are only revoked and incorporated into the Great Koala National Park once the associated carbon project has been formally registered and is eligible to generate Australian carbon credit units under the scheme. The Commonwealth project assessment process is progressing well. The Government expects to be in a position to commence the reservation provisions of the bill and open the park before the end of the year, subject to the passage of this bill. Revenue generated through the carbon project will support the long-term conservation and management of these lands. The Government has also committed that these credits will not be sold to fossil fuel projects. This commitment will be registered with the Commonwealth Clean Energy Regulator.

The bill will transfer certain State forest, Crown lands and other lands to the national park estate. The Great Koala National Park will protect one of the most significant koala populations in New South Wales. Koala drone surveys undertaken across the assessment area between April and July 2024 estimated a population of between 10,300 and 14,540 koalas, with a mean estimate of 12,111 koalas. By securing large areas of connected, high‑quality habitat, the bill will help safeguard that population for future generations. While koalas are the flagship species for this new national park, they are far from the only beneficiaries. The new park supports an extraordinary diversity of native plants and animals, including 66 threatened fauna species and 37 threatened flora species.

Establishment of the park will strengthen protection for a range of threatened species, including the southern greater glider, yellow-bellied glider and glossy black cockatoo. It will also protect significant populations of threatened plants, including spider orchids that are not currently protected elsewhere in the New South Wales national park estate. The bill will provide enhanced protections for important old-growth forests and protect key water catchments that contribute to the Bellingen, Nambucca and Nymboida water supplies. These forests also provide important climate refugia, offering species a greater chance of persisting as temperatures rise and climatic conditions change.

The park also has exceptional connectivity values, providing crucial corridors for species to move and breed. The east-west links and altitudinal gradient from the coastal lowlands up the escarpment and over to the adjoining New England Tablelands are particularly important for many species. Protecting these forests is an enduring investment in our natural heritage, safeguarding a landscape rich in biodiversity, natural beauty and cultural significance for future generations. The process to identify the boundaries of the Great Koala National Park involved extensive assessment and consultation, including an independent economic and social assessment of impacts on local jobs, communities and employment; the establishment of industry, community and Aboriginal advisory panels to inform the assessment process; and expert environmental and cultural heritage assessments to ensure the protection of environmental values and cultural heritage. Together, those assessments provided a comprehensive examination of the national park proposal.

In determining the final reservation proposal and reserve categories contained in the bill, the Government carefully considered the evidence gathered through that process and a broad range of additional stakeholder feedback. The Government acknowledges that creating the Great Koala National Park has implications for parts of the native timber industry and for workers and communities that have historically depended on timber harvesting from those forests. The Government planned carefully to minimise impacts where possible and has worked directly with affected businesses, workers and communities to support the transition.

The Government has put in place a comprehensive support package for affected workers and businesses, including redundancy support, retraining and upskilling assistance, relocation support and access to financial, legal and mental health services. Financial assistance is also available to eligible businesses affected by the reduction in timber supply, including support for business planning, transition activities and investment in new business opportunities. The Government has committed a $6 million community grants package to support regional economic development, tourism and local business growth, helping communities realise new opportunities arising from the establishment of the Great Koala National Park. The Government recognises that adjustment will take time and it remains committed to working alongside local communities as those changes take effect.

The Government also recognises that the transition associated with the establishment of the Great Koala National Park will affect some Forestry Corporation employees. To support that transition, the bill includes a provision enabling affected Forestry Corporation staff to be appointed to suitable roles within the National Parks and Wildlife Service without the need for a competitive recruitment process, helping retain valuable local skills, experience and knowledge within the region. While acknowledging the impacts, the Great Koala National Park presents significant opportunities for the Mid North Coast community.

The Government is making a significant investment in the long-term management of the park, including establishing 100 additional National Parks and Wildlife Service positions to deliver enhanced fire management, feral animal and weed control, ecological rehabilitation and visitor management. As a result of that investment, a higher level of fire and invasive species management will be undertaken in the forests than has occurred historically. I take a moment to acknowledge the Minister, who joins us in the advisers area for the second reading speech in the Legislative Assembly. It is wonderful to have her with us.

Already, National Parks and Wildlife Service has been ramping up preparedness in the area with new technology, surveillance and equipment to strengthen bushfire detection and response. A network of remote cameras and satellite wildfire detection is being rolled out across the park footprint, giving National Parks 24/7 awareness of fire within the landscape. Aboriginal roles will make up at least 15 per cent of the new positions, creating opportunities across a wide range of park management functions.

Through partnerships with local councils, Aboriginal communities, tourism operators and other stakeholders, the Government will support new visitor experiences, recreation opportunities and nature-based tourism that showcase the region's unique environmental and cultural values. The creation of the Great Koala National Park marks the beginning of a transformative new chapter for the Mid North Coast. As a significant environmental, cultural and tourism asset, it will support jobs, strengthen regional communities and protect one of New South Wales' most important landscapes for future generations.

Beyond the formal advisory panel process, through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the New South Wales Government continues to undertake extensive stakeholder engagement and community consultation throughout the development of the park. The Great Koala National Park Have Your Say survey received almost 4,000 responses. The key findings are set out in the What We Heard report, which brings together the themes, feedback and outcomes from the survey and broader stakeholder engagement undertaken. The report reveals that people in the local region and across New South Wales widely appreciate the area for its recreation opportunities, outstanding conservation values, natural beauty and wellbeing benefits. There is strong support for improved protection for koalas and other threatened species while also ensuring that a broad range of recreational uses are available in the park.

The Government carefully considered the views expressed through that engagement alongside environmental, cultural, social and economic assessments when developing the reservation proposal before the House. That feedback informed a range of decisions reflected in the bill, including proposed reserve categories, boundary refinements, recreation and access arrangements and future management approaches. Consultation and engagement with Aboriginal communities, local stakeholders, recreational users and the broader community will continue as the park is established and future management arrangements are developed. Community input will help shape future plans of management, guiding recreation opportunities and investment in trails and visitor infrastructure while protecting the park's outstanding natural and cultural values.

The reserve categories proposed in the bill reflect extensive consultation, rigorous assessment and the unique circumstances of the Great Koala National Park. In determining reserve categories, the Government considered high-value conservation and cultural landscapes, alongside longstanding community use of State forests, established recreational activities and existing visitor infrastructure. The Government recognises that State forests have supported generations of recreational use. We have listened carefully to the views of the public and recreational groups—including four-wheel drive and motorcycle enthusiasts, campers, bushwalkers and mountain bike riders—about how they use the area now and what opportunities they would like in the future.

Far from being locked up, the new reserves will remain open for public enjoyment, with enhanced opportunities for new and existing recreational access. The reserves will continue to provide opportunities for the public to connect with and enjoy the natural environment through walking, cycling, four-wheel driving, trail bike riding, horseriding, nature-based recreation and other activities consistent with the management objectives of each reserve category. The Government recognises that those recreational uses each have a long and valued tradition in the way people enjoy the Australian bush and the great outdoors. In today's world, those recreational pursuits and opportunities for social connection and connection with nature are more important than ever.

The bill includes provisions allowing the Minister to approve motor racing events on existing roads in regional parks in appropriate circumstances. That recognises the long history of car rally events in the region and ongoing community interest while ensuring that environmental, cultural heritage and public safety considerations remain paramount. The Great Koala National Park demonstrates how environmental protection, cultural recognition and community access can be achieved together through extensive consultation and thoughtful, balanced reserve planning. Our hope is that it is seen as a best practice model for years to come.

Most of the lands reserved through the bill will be designated as national park. National park is the principal reserve category within the Great Koala National Park and has been applied to extensive areas of forests with high conservation value. These areas will protect important koala habitat and other significant environmental values while continuing to provide opportunities for appropriate public access and nature-based recreation. Nature reserves have been applied to areas containing particularly sensitive environmental values, including significant threatened species habitat, old-growth forest and other ecosystems with high conservation value. These areas are generally less suited to intensive recreational use and will receive the highest level of protection available under the reserve system. Most of the flora reserves will be reserved as nature reserves, as well as sensible additions to existing nature reserves in the area. Reserving these lands as nature reserves will help maintain their conservation value for future generations.

The bill creates a series of new regional parks. Regional parks have been designated in areas that support conservation values while also accommodating established recreational use and community access. Many of these areas are located near regional centres, including Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, Bellingen and Kempsey, and support longstanding recreational activities, established visitor infrastructure and high levels of community use. Regional park status ensures these lands remain protected as part of the national park estate while continuing to support a diverse range of recreational opportunities. This outcome is a clear demonstration of our commitment to listen to the diversity of community views about how people want to be able to access and enjoy all that the Great Koala National Park has to offer.

Two new Aboriginal areas will be created over places of particular cultural significance identified through consultation with the Aboriginal advisory panel. This reserve category recognises the importance of protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage, cultural landscapes and ongoing connections to country. These areas will provide opportunities for greater Aboriginal involvement in the management and interpretation of these important places. The Government is committed to undertaking a landscape-scale cultural mapping exercise in the future to better identify and protect areas of particular significance to the Aboriginal community.

Some lands included in the bill cannot immediately be reserved because they are subject to existing leasehold or other legal interests. The bill vests these lands in the Minister under part 11 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, providing a pathway for their ongoing management while those interests are addressed. This includes around 17,000 hectares of land subject to perpetual leases. The New South Wales Government is engaging directly to acquire these leasehold interests in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, which provides fair compensation and an open and transparent process. When existing interests are resolved, the lands can be formally reserved and incorporated into the adjoining national park or nature reserve, ensuring long-term conservation management consistent with surrounding reserved lands.

The bill updates reserve categories of a small number of existing reserves to better reflect current land use, cultural values and conservation objectives. Seven existing State conservation areas will be recategorised as national park. This strengthens their conservation status and reflects the cessation of mineral interests and activities within these reserves. The bill also recategorises Sherwood Nature Reserve as a combination of national park and Aboriginal area. This approach better reflects the area's significant cultural values while also supporting appropriate recreation and public access.

The new reserve names have been generously gifted by the local Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti Aboriginal communities. The New South Wales Government is honoured to accept these names and recognises them as an enduring contribution by the Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti peoples to the people of New South Wales. These names keep traditional language, culture and connection to country visible and respected, strengthening understanding of the rich Aboriginal heritage of this landscape for generations to come. The bill also corrects the spelling of several existing reserves to reflect contemporary Aboriginal language advice.

The Government sees Aboriginal involvement in park management as central to the long-term success of the Great Koala National Park. The Aboriginal advisory panel has played an instrumental role in ensuring Aboriginal cultural heritage and knowledge are reflected in the creation of the Great Koala National Park. The bill lays the foundation for future joint management arrangements and stronger Aboriginal participation in conservation, visitor services, cultural heritage management and land stewardship. For the first time, the New South Wales Government is seeking to develop a whole-of-country joint management model with an Aboriginal nation. This represents an important opportunity to strengthen Aboriginal leadership in the stewardship of country and may provide a model for future joint management arrangements across New South Wales.

Following extensive collaboration with Elders and traditional custodians through the Aboriginal advisory panel, the Great Koala National Park will create new opportunities for Aboriginal employment and leadership in park management. In addition to the provisions in this bill, the New South Wales Government is supporting the creation of eight externally hosted Aboriginal ranger positions. Employed by local Aboriginal organisations, these rangers will work alongside national parks staff to embed cultural knowledge, cultural burning, Caring for Country practices and Aboriginal stewardship at the heart of the park's long-term management.

Consistent with Government policy, most State forest plantations have been excluded from the Great Koala National Park and will continue to be managed by the Forestry Corporation of NSW for ongoing timber production. The Government has been clear in this regard since 2023. The Government remains committed to a sustainable plantation timber industry and recognises the important role plantations play in supporting regional jobs and timber supply. The bill includes specific provisions to maintain access to Forestry Corporation plantation assets that remain outside the park. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Corporation have undertaken work to ensure the final boundaries provide access to plantations, facilitate operational management and ensure the integrity of the park. Clear and rational boundaries are essential for both agencies to effectively conduct management operations. Access roads and associated operational arrangements have been carefully designed to support the ongoing management and harvesting of plantation forests.

In limited locations, achieving a practical boundary outcome required the retention of small areas of native State forest adjacent to plantation areas. These buffer areas provide operational access and separation that supports the ongoing management of adjoining plantations. While these lands will remain State forest, the bill establishes a process to identify these lands and makes clear that they are not available for timber harvesting. By prohibiting prescribed forestry operations in these retained native State forests, we are ensuring these areas continue to contribute to the conservation outcomes in the landscape while maintaining operational access to plantations.

The bill includes a mechanism to make minor or consequential boundary adjustments following reservation. The provision is designed to address surveying issues, road alignments, tenure anomalies and similar matters. Strict safeguards apply, including ministerial approvals and certification that adjustments cannot significantly diminish either the national park estate or State forest estate. Similar provisions have been used successfully in previous reservation legislation.

The Government recognises that reservation of a public land estate of this scale and complexity cannot always resolve every tenure and administrative matter before legislation is introduced. The bill therefore includes limited mechanisms to allow certain public lands to be added to the national park estate following commencement where this is necessary to resolve tenure, boundary or land administration matters, or to complete implementation of the reservation package. These provisions are intended to facilitate delivery of the reservation outcome approved by Parliament and ensure identified public lands can be incorporated into the national park estate in an orderly and efficient manner. Appropriate safeguards apply to the exercise of these powers, including ministerial oversight and statutory limitations on how and when the powers may be exercised.

The bill contains provisions to preserve existing lawful rights and interests where appropriate, ensuring the establishment of the Great Koala National Park does not unnecessarily disrupt existing arrangements. At the same time, the bill extinguishes rights that are inconsistent with the long-term reservation and management of these lands as part of the national park estate. This includes forestry rights and, where relevant, carbon sequestration rights that arise as forestry rights under the Conveyancing Act 1919. The lands affected by the bill contain a range of other existing interests, including recreational clubs operating under permit, apiary sites, utilities and other authorised uses. The bill provides for these interests to continue in accordance with existing legislative arrangements. This approach enables the Government to deliver the Great Koala National Park while providing certainty for existing interest holders and supporting an orderly transition into the national park estate.

Creating the park is only the first step. Detailed planning will follow to guide conservation, visitor access, cultural heritage protection and recreation. The Government will continue to work with Aboriginal communities, local councils, stakeholders and park users as management arrangements are developed. Future management planning will ensure the park's environmental, cultural and recreational values are protected and enhanced over time. As required for all parks, statutory plans of management will be prepared, publicly exhibited and then adopted for reserves in the Great Koala National Park.

The bill is about more than lines on a map. It is about protecting one of New South Wales' most significant environmental and cultural landscapes while ensuring current and future generations can continue to experience and enjoy it. It delivers on the Government's commitment to establish the Great Koala National Park, securing habitat for koalas and many other threatened species. It recognises the enduring connection of the Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti peoples to country and provides a foundation for sustainable recreation, tourism and regional economic opportunities.

Through the bill, the Government is delivering a vision for the Great Koala National Park that protects environmental and cultural values, supports community access and provides a strong foundation for long‑term stewardship. This approach is informed by extensive consultation, rigorous assessment and a shared commitment to the future of these forests. The Great Koala National Park will be a landmark addition to the national park estate and a lasting investment in the environmental, cultural and economic future of the Mid North Coast and New South Wales. I acknowledge all those in the department and in National Parks, the Minister and her exceptional team for all their work in bringing this legislation to the Parliament today. I commend them, and I commend the bill to the House.