Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, has welcomed the announcement by the Environment Minister, Ms Gabrielle Upton, that a new 1,873 hectare flora reserve will be established north-west of Gosford, adjoining Yengo National Park, protecting significant Aboriginal cultural heritage and threatened species.
Mr MacDonald said the addition of this Central Coast reserve is part of over 18,000 hectares of land that is being added to NSW’s conservation network, providing signifi cant support to the State’s biodiversity. This latest addition by the NSW Liberal-National Government will take the size of the NSW Parks Estate to more than 7.1 million hectares. “The new national park additions, totalling 5,383 hectares, are a combination of strategic acquisitions and areas of state forest to be transferred to the national parks system,” Ms Upton said. “This 1873-hectare parcel of State forest will be transferred into the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to improve conservation outcomes while maintaining the community’s ability to access these areas for existing forms of recreation,” Mr MacDonald said.
“The conservation benefits include improving connectivity between existing reserves as well as being home to a number of threatened species, including the red-crowned toadlet, gang-gang cockatoo and glossy black cockatoo,” Ms Upton said. “The land being transferred also includes significant Aboriginal cultural heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service will consult with the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Corporation to ensure the long-term protection of these cultural values. “Building the reserve system is a long-term investment for the Berejiklian Government, delivering on-ground conservation outcomes and protecting important land for the benefit of future generations and the environment,” she added.
Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, said “We must value and preserve our environmentally and culturally significant pockets of land on the Central Coast. “There are many benefits to this very welcome decision; threatened species will be protected, consultation with our local Aboriginal community will be ensured, and connectivity between existing reserves increased.” Management of the new Flora Reserves will be transferred in stages, with the first transfers commencing on July 1 this year.
Source: Media release, May 15 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC