In what has been called a ground-breaking partnership, The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC) and the NSW Government have teamed up to purchase Brindingabba Station around 175 kilometres northwest of Bourke in the Mulga Lands bioregion of New South Wales.
This vast property spanning just under 34,000 hectares has officially become the Brindingabba National Park and according to the NSW Government, National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) plans to build facilities that will support opportunities to camp and explore the area. It’s expected the new park will open to the public before the end of 2023.
This seems like a huge win for those of us who love unsealed tracks and camping in Outback Australia!
Protecting our land for years to come
Minister for Environment James Griffin said, “The new addition of Brindingabba National Park is significant because its rich biodiversity will now be protected in perpetuity, and the people of NSW will be able to experience it for themselves for generations to come.”
Supporting 30 different ecosystems and protecting habitat for at least 12 endangered and 31 vulnerable species, the new Brindingabba National Park protects over 7,000 hectares of Yantabulla Swamp and an important part of Lake Wombah. An endangered plant called Lancewood (Acacia petraea) found in only two other areas of NSW is also protected within the new park.
TNC’s Director of Conservation and Science, Dr James Fitzsimmons said, “With neighbouring privately protected areas, it creates a conservation corridor of more than 65,000 hectares.” Adjoining the park are Naree and Yantabulla Stations, both of which are private reserves that the NSW Government protected in perpetuity through its Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT).
Protecting important cultural sites
Located in the traditional Paroo River country of the Budjiti and Barkandji People on the NSW/QLD border, Brindingabba National Park has extensive Aboriginal cultural heritage with evidence of artefacts and other significant items across the property.
NPWS look forward to working with the local Aboriginal community to protect these important cultural sites.
A boost for the Outback economy
According to the NSW Government, NSW national parks contribute nearly 18 billion in economic output for the state, providing significant economic for the regions. It’s expected that this new destination will boost the Outback economy.
We look forward to this new national park opening to the public so that we can experience more of Australia’s wonderful outback landscapes!
