Protected areas of New South Wales

The Protected areas of New South Wales include both terrestrial and marine protected areas. As of June 2020[update] 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

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

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]

Terrestrial protected areas

National Parks

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

Far West

Hunter & Central Coast

Illawarra-Shoalhaven

New England-North West

North Coast

Riverina-Murray

Southeast & Tablelands

Sydney & Surrounds

Nature Reserves

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

Far West

Hunter & Central Coast

  • Awabakal Nature Reserve
  • Bandicoot Island Nature Reserve
  • Berrico Nature Reserve
  • Bird Island Nature Reserve
  • Boondelbah Nature Reserve
  • Bretti Nature Reserve
  • Brimbin Nature Reserve
  • Bugan Nature Reserve
  • Burning Mountain Nature Reserve
  • Bushy Island Nature Reserve
  • Camels Hump Nature Reserve
  • Camerons Gorge Nature Reserve
  • Cedar Brush Nature Reserve
  • Cockle Bay Nature Reserve
  • Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve
  • Coolongolook Nature Reserve
  • Corrie Island Nature Reserve
  • Coxcomb Nature Reserve
  • Darawank Nature Reserve
  • Durands Island Nature Reserve
  • Flat Island Nature Reserve
  • Goonook Nature Reserve
  • John Gould Nature Reserve
  • Karuah Nature Reserve
  • Khatambuhl Nature Reserve
  • Khappinghat Nature Reserve
  • Killabakh Nature Reserve
  • Killarney Nature Reserve
  • Lion Island Nature Reserve
  • Little Broughton Island Nature Reserve
  • Manobalai Nature Reserve
  • Mernot Nature Reserve
  • Mills Island Nature Reserve
  • Minimbah Nature Reserve
  • Moffats Swamp Nature Reserve
  • Monkerai Nature Reserve
  • Monkeycot Nature Reserve
  • Moon Island Nature Reserve
  • One Tree Island Nature Reserve
  • Pambalong Nature Reserve
  • Pelican Island Nature Reserve
  • Pulbah Island Nature Reserve
  • Regatta Island Nature Reserve
  • Rileys Island Nature Reserve
  • Saratoga Island Nature Reserve
  • Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve
  • Seal Rocks Nature Reserve
  • Snapper Island Nature Reserve
  • Spectacle Island Nature Reserve
  • Stormpetrel Nature Reserve
  • Talawahl Nature Reserve
  • The Glen Nature Reserve
  • Tilligerry Nature Reserve
  • Tingira Heights Nature Reserve
  • Towibakh Nature Reserve
  • Wallamba Nature Reserve
  • Wallis Island Nature Reserve
  • Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve
  • Wambina Nature Reserve
  • Watchimbark Nature Reserve
  • Weelah Nature Reserve
  • Wingen Maid Nature Reserve
  • Wingham Brush Nature Reserve
  • Yahoo Island Nature Reserve

Illawarra-Shoalhaven

New England-North West

  • Aberbaldie Nature Reserve
  • Arakoola Nature Reserve
  • Back River Nature Reserve
  • Bluff River Nature Reserve
  • Bolivia Hill Nature Reserve
  • Boomi Nature Reserve
  • Boomi West Nature Reserve
  • Booroolong Nature Reserve
  • Brigalow Nature Reserve
  • Budelah Nature Reserve
  • Burral Yurrul Nature Reserve
  • Captains Creek Nature Reserve
  • Careunga Nature Reserve
  • Demon Nature Reserve
  • Doctors Nose Mountain Nature Reserve
  • Donnybrook Nature Reserve
  • Dthinna Dthinnawan Nature Reserve
  • Duval Nature Reserve
  • Gamilaroi Nature Reserve
  • Georges Creek Nature Reserve
  • Gibraltar Nature Reserve
  • Guy Fawkes River Nature Reserve
  • Imbota Nature Reserve
  • Ironbark Nature Reserve
  • Jobs Mountain Nature Reserve
  • Kirramingly Nature Reserve
  • Linton Nature Reserve
  • Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
  • Mann River Nature Reserve
  • Melville Range Nature Reserve
  • Midkin Nature Reserve
  • Mother Of Ducks Lagoon Nature Reserve
  • Mount Mackenzie Nature Reserve
  • Ngulin Nature Reserve
  • North Obelisk Nature Reserve
  • Pilliga Nature Reserve
  • Planchonella Nature Reserve
  • Serpentine Nature Reserve
  • Severn River Nature Reserve
  • Stony Batter Creek Nature Reserve
  • Taringa Nature Reserve
  • The Basin Nature Reserve
  • The Castles Nature Reserve
  • Tomalla Nature Reserve
  • Tuggolo Creek Nature Reserve
  • Wallabadah Nature Reserve
  • Watsons Creek Nature Reserve
  • Yina Nature Reserve

North Coast

Riverina-Murray

Southeast & Tablelands

  • Araluen Nature Reserve
  • Badja Swamps Nature Reserve
  • Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve
  • Bees Nest Nature Reserve
  • Bell Bird Creek Nature Reserve
  • Bermaguee Nature Reserve
  • Binjura Nature Reserve
  • Black Andrew Nature Reserve
  • Bobundara Nature Reserve
  • Bondi Gulf Nature Reserve
  • Bournda Nature Reserve
  • Broulee Island Nature Reserve
  • Burnt School Nature Reserve
  • Burra Creek Nature Reserve
  • Burrinjuck Nature Reserve
  • Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve
  • Coolumbooka Nature Reserve
  • Coornartha Nature Reserve
  • Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve
  • Cuumbeun Nature Reserve
  • Dananbilla Nature Reserve
  • Dangelong Nature Reserve
  • Eagles Claw Nature Reserve
  • Egan Peaks Nature Reserve
  • Good Good Nature Reserve
  • Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve
  • Gungewalla Nature Reserve
  • Hattons Corner Nature Reserve
  • Illawong Nature Reserve
  • Illunie Nature Reserve
  • Ironmungy Nature Reserve
  • Jerralong Nature Reserve
  • Joadja Nature Reserve
  • Koorawatha Nature Reserve
  • Kuma Nature Reserve
  • Kybeyan Nature Reserve
  • Meringo Nature Reserve
  • Merriangaah Nature Reserve
  • Mount Clifford Nature Reserve
  • Mount Dowling Nature Reserve
  • Mundoonen Nature Reserve
  • Myalla Nature Reserve
  • Nadgee Nature Reserve
  • Nadgigomar Nature Reserve
  • Ngadang Nature Reserve
  • Nimmo Nature Reserve
  • Numeralla Nature Reserve
  • Oak Creek Nature Reserve
  • Paupong Nature Reserve
  • Queanbeyan Nature Reserve
  • Quidong Nature Reserve
  • Razorback Nature Reserve
  • Robertson Nature Reserve
  • Scabby Range Nature Reserve
  • Scott Nature Reserve
  • Stony Creek Nature Reserve
  • Strike-a-Light Nature Reserve
  • Tinderry Nature Reserve
  • Tollgate Islands Nature Reserve
  • Turallo Nature Reserve
  • Undoo Nature Reserve
  • Wadjan Nature Reserve
  • Wanna Wanna Nature Reserve
  • Wee Jasper Nature Reserve
  • Wollondilly River Nature Reserve
  • Wullwye Nature Reserve
  • Yanununbeyan Nature Reserve
  • Yaouk Nature Reserve
  • Young Nature Reserve

Sydney & Surrounds

State Conservation Areas

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

Central NSW

  • Avondale State Conservation Area
  • Banyabba State Conservation Area
  • Berlang State Conservation Area
  • Bindarri State Conservation Area
  • Bundjalung State Conservation Area
  • Carrai State Conservation Area
  • Cascade State Conservation Area
  • Chaelundi State Conservation Area
  • Chatsworth Hill State Conservation Area
  • Coneac State Conservation Area
  • Corymbia State Conservation Area
  • Cottan-Bimbang State Conservation Area
  • Curracabundi State Conservation Area
  • Currys Gap State Conservation Area
  • Frogs Hole State Conservation Area
  • Gurranang State Conservation Area
  • Guy Fawkes River State Conservation Area
  • Jackywalbin State Conservation Area
  • Karuah State Conservation Area
  • Kooyong State Conservation Area
  • Kumbatine State Conservation Area
  • Kybeyan State Conservation Area
  • Laurence Road State Conservation Area
  • Livingstone State Conservation Area
  • Macanally State Conservation Area
  • Majors Creek State Conservation Area
  • Medowie State Conservation Area
  • Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area
  • Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area
  • Mullion Range State Conservation Area
  • Mummel Gulf State Conservation Area
  • Nymboi-Binderai State Conservation Area
  • Nymboida State Conservation Area
  • Oxley Wild Rivers State Conservation Area
  • Polblue State Conservation Area
  • Talawahl State Conservation Area
  • Tallaganda State Conservation Area
  • The Cells State Conservation Area
  • Toonumbar State Conservation Area
  • Washpool State Conservation Area
  • Wereboldera State Conservation Area
  • Wombat Creek State Conservation Area
  • Yarringully State Conservation Area
  • Yurammie State Conservation Area
  • Yuraygir State Conservation Area

Hunter & Mid North Coast

New England Tablelands

  • Butterleaf State Conservation Area
  • Mount Hyland State Conservation Area
  • Torrington State Conservation Area

Northern Rivers

Outback NSW

South Coast & Highlands

  • Bargo State Conservation Area
  • Bargo River State Conservation Area
  • Barnunj State Conservation Area
  • Berlang State Conservation Area
  • Brindabella State Conservation Area
  • Bungonia State Conservation Area
  • Colymea State Conservation Area
  • Corramy State Conservation Area
  • Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area
  • Macquarie Pass State Conservation Area
  • Majors Creek State Conservation Area
  • Monga State Conservation Area
  • Morton State Conservation Area
  • Tumbalong State Conservation Area
  • Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area

Sydney & Surrounds

Regional Parks

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

Hunter & Mid North Coast

  • Coffs Coast Regional Park

South Coast & Highlands

  • Bomaderry Creek Regional Park

Sydney & Surrounds

Aboriginal Areas

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

Hunter & Mid North Coast

  • Nambucca Aboriginal Area
  • Nunguu Mirral Aboriginal Area

New England Tablelands

  • Stonewoman Aboriginal Area

Northern Rivers

  • Lennox Head Aboriginal Area

Outback NSW

  • Pindera Downs Aboriginal Area

South Coast & Highlands

  • Murramarang Aboriginal Area

Sydney & Surrounds

  • Appletree Aboriginal Area
  • Finchley Aboriginal Area
  • Howe Aboriginal Area
  • Mooney Mooney Aboriginal Area
  • Mount Kuring-gai Aboriginal Area

Historic Sites

A number of Historic Sites are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Other historic sites in the state are managed by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales.

  • Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden

Central NSW

Hunter & Mid North Coast

  • Clybucca Historic Site

Northern Rivers

  • Tweed Heads Historic Site

Outback NSW

  • Mount Grenfell Historic Site
  • Mutawintji Historic Site

South Coast & Highlands

  • Davidson Whaling Station Historic Site
  • Throsby Park Historic Site

Sydney & Surrounds

State Parks

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

Karst Conservation Reserves

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

Marine protected areas

Marine Parks

Marine Parks are managed by the New South Wales Marine Parks Authority.[11]

Aquatic reserves

Aquatic reserves are managed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.[12]

  • Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, Tweed Heads
  • Barrenjoey Head Aquatic Reserve, Hawkesbury River
  • Narrabeen Head Aquatic Reserve
  • Long Reef Aquatic Reserve
  • Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, Manly
  • North Harbour Aquatic Reserve, Sydney
  • Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve
  • Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve, La Perouse
  • Boat Harbour Aquatic Reserve, Kurnell
  • Towra Point Aquatic Reserve, Botany Bay
  • Shiprock Aquatic Reserve, Port Hacking
  • Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve, Shellharbour

See also

References

  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. ^ a b "CAPAD 2020". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Redfearn, Graham (27 June 2020). "NSW makes record land purchase for new national park". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Marine parks". Marine protected areas. NSW Department of Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Aquatic reserves". Marine Protected Areas. NSW Department of Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  • NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service