Bellingen Courier Sun Story: Bellingen Council commits to investigate Great Koala National Park proposal

'Bellingen Shire councillors have voted 4-3 in favour of supporting, in principle, the formation of a Great Koala National Park and to seek further information and advice on the subject.
The motion, put by Mayor Dominic King, was in response to a NSW National Parks and Wildlife proposal to convert existing state forests in the Nambucca, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour local government areas into a new Great Koala National Park, adding 175,000 hectares to the existing 140,000 hectares of protected areas.'

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Council votes to support Great Koala National Park

 

Excerpt from Council Minutes:

 

MINUTES

ORDINARY COUNCIL

23/08/2017

Page 15   ITEM:10.8  SUBJECT:MAYORAL MINUTE: FORMATION OF GREAT KOALA NATIONAL

                                                                                       PARK

FILE/INDEX: KOALA PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

PRESENTED BY:DOMINIC KING, MAYOR

      MOVED(Cr King/Cr Fenton)

That Council:

1.

Support in principle the establishment of the Great Koala National Park.

2.

Seek advice and consult on the implications of the proposed Great Koala National Park from the Forestry Corporation of NSW and local industries such as sawmills.

3.

Seek advice and clarification from the NSW Government and Opposition on their respective positions’ on the proposed Great Koala National Park and within that the funding which would be made available to support the proposed Great Koala NationalPark, including arrangements for funding assistance and transition arrangements for any local workers and businesses who may be affected by the conversion of State Forests to National Park as well as the additional jobs which the proposed Great Koala National Park would create.

4.

Be presented with a further report outlining responses received. 

5.

That the further report to council give consideration to seeking funding from the NSW government for the formation of the propose Great Koala National Park including the effects of the current industry, creation of new industries, environmental impacts,improvements and opportunities.

         For:

       Cr King, Cr Klipin, Cr Fenton and Cr Wright-Turner. Against: Cr Carter, Cr Harrison and Cr Jenkins.