Statement on Thurloo National Park

NSW Farmers Western Division chair Gerard Glover says the state government needs to ensure its new mega National Park doesn’t become a breeding ground for invasive species.

This week Premier Dominic Perrottet announced almost half a million hectares of land would be converted to National Park, and that the next two years would see a “ramp up” of feral animal and weed control. It was also announced the National Parks and Wildlife Service would engage additional staff to
manage the property and deliver $4 million in initial capital works to support park management and visitor infrastructure.

Mr Glover said invasive pest animals and weeds cost landholders tens of millions of dollars every year, and NSW Farmers had been calling for a crackdown on public land managers such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“The state government can’t just buy up farmland, lock it up and leave it to become a breeding ground for pigs, dogs and weeds,” Mr Glover said.

“Our position is that any purchase of land for National Parks in the Western Division must have funding allocated for the construction of perimeter exclusion fencing, upgraded access roads between the nearest major road and the entrance to the proposed park, and permanent on-site staff employed to maintain each new park.

“Good land and conservation outcomes are achievable only so long as these public lands are properly managed and funded in perpetuity.

“It is very important to have continued funding for these parks not only for an initial period but out past five years at least.”