NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean has announced the second largest land acquisition for national parks in the past 10 years with the purchase of the Lanigdoon and Metford stations, 65 kilometres from Broken Hill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The neighbouring properties, covering 60,468 hectares, will become a new outback reserve conserving significant biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage.
"Land to the west of the Great Dividing Range supports a great diversity of wildlife, unique natural heritage and culturally important places, worthy of protection," Mr Kean said.
READ:
"This new park will be an important refuge for wildlife including at least 14 threatened animal species including habitat for the Australian bustard, white fronted chat and the pink cockatoo."
When the stations are "formally reserved", the national parks system will have increased by more 350,000 hectares since August 2019 and be well on the way to meeting the government's target of an extra 400,000 hectares by the end of 2022.
The purchase follows the recent creation of another outback reserve ,Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park, which was the largest purchase of private land for the national parks estate.
It is expected that "in time", visitors will be able to explore sandplains and stony desert, gibber chenopod shrublands, floodplain woodland along watercourses and a lake system that provides habitat for a range of migratory bird species.
The properties contain important Aboriginal heritage including artefacts such as grinding plates and stones.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News