Concern over national park acquisitions heard in parliament

Government purchases of land for national parks have many local impacts, including inhibiting existing landowners from expanding their holdings, thereby decreasing numbers in the local communities. (Image: Pastoralists Association of West Darling)

The expansion of national parks across western New South Wales continues to face mounting criticism from local representatives and landholders, who say the purchases are eroding rural economies and putting pressure on councils.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler has taken the issue to State Parliament, moving a notice of motion demanding greater accountability and a halt to further acquisitions until the full impacts are assessed. He has also released a survey on his website to reveal the range of views among people living in communities alongside western National Parks. 

“I don’t tend to use words like insist and demand,” Mr Butler said.

“But this motion did have those words because it’s getting to a point where we really need some answers. We’ve got successive governments, both the LNP and the Labor government, buying up agricultural properties and calling them national parks, but we haven’t seen a plan.”

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