Hundreds of hectares of bushland in Western Sydney will be “rewilded” with koalas, quolls and other species in a bid to regenerate threatened native animals.
It has been dubbed the biggest urban wildlife restoration in Australia’s history and the more than 500 hectares of conservation area will be home to some cute new inhabitants.
It is envisaged the wildlife refuge will become a popular tourist destination with walking trails and tours including guided after-dark spotlighting walks to observe nocturnal wildlife.
Situated at Shanes Park near Blacktown, the new national park – which is to be given an Indigenous name – will be home to koalas, emus, long-nosed bandicoots, burrowing bettongs, green and golden bell frogs and much more.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s deputy secretary, Atticus Fleming, said construction on the 10-kilometre fence would begin in January with species to be sourced from around Australia, as well as Taronga Zoo.
“Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world and so many of our surviving species are threatened with extinction as a result of foxes, cats and loss of habitat,” said Mr Fleming.
The national park is expected to open to the public by early 2023.
Explore more: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au