Pastoralists in the far west are bewildered by the large purchase of land for new NSW National Parks calling it a waste of money and are pushing back on claims it will drive more tourism.

It comes after three more pastoral stations were 'acquired and retired' to be added to the national parks estate, hot on the heels of other annual acquisitions around the north west in the past three years.

White Cliffs land holder Terry White said he was speaking for many Western NSW farmers who have pleaded with NSW Environment to stop taking agricultural land for National Parks.

"We want these Parks halted and stopped, they are not achieving anything," Mr White said.

‘’This very costly for NSW taxpayers and there is no one going to these Parks.

"I live alongside one and it is staffed by at least 12 people.’’

He says the costly infrastructure and staffing is expensive and the tourism potential overstated.

"The tourism aspect is ridiculous. You need 4-wheel-drives to get into any of these and that’s even tough going.’’

The Minns Labor Government says it is protecting more native wildlife and threatened ecosystems by adding more than 34,000 hectares across three large land holdings in north west NSW to our network of national parks. 

The government has invested $11.7 million to acquire and 'retire' the latest stations, totalling 34,773 hectares and including: 

• Bellenbar – 13,674 hectares 
• Iona – 13,456 hectares 
• Innisfail – 7,643 hectares 

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe says its game-changing for historic and wild life reasons.

“These reserves protect over 80 threatened species, safeguarding nature for future generations," she said.

“This land is not only environmentally significant, but also culturally rich. Protecting sites like Winbar Caves and consulting with Aboriginal communities about management of the new acquisitions ensures Aboriginal cultural heritage is recognised, respected and protected.” 

But Mr Smith says it is having negative impacts on the pastoral industry.

‘’Buying this country means farmers can’t expand properties in remote country and it's troubling families who can’t have succession plans for their kids.

"And it's hurting real values of properties in all these areas.’’

Iona, near Cobar. IMAGE: NSW National Parks

 A spokesperson for the NSW National Parks said National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) acquires new land for its parks system to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage and to provide more areas and opportunities for tourism.

"The process for determining the suitability of potential acquisitions includes a comprehensive assessment of the conservation values," the spokesperson said.

"All additions to the national parks network are approved by the NSW Minster for the Environment before they are acquired.

''The Bellenbar, Iona and Innisfail properties were selected after a detailed assessment of their environmental and cultural values, which confirmed they were a high priority for acquisition and inclusion in the national parks network.

"Following the acquisitions, NPWS will carry out extensive planning to determine how best to introduce tourism while safeguarding the environmental and cultural heritage values of these new reserves. ''

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 The new reserve at Bellenbar is north west of Bourke on the Warrego River and includes 2,334ha of Coolibah - Black Box Woodland which is listed as an endangered ecological community. 

Nine threatened species including the endangered Kultarr and South-eastern Hooded Robin have been recorded on the property and an additional 27 threatened species have been spotted in the locality. 

The new reserve at Iona is north west of Cobar and has known-and-potential habitat for 50 threatened species. That includes 44 animals including Corben's Long-eared Bat, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-Bat, Inland Forest Bat and Little Pied Bat, as well as habitat for seven flora species including the lancewood Acacia petraea.

Iona also includes significant rock art and cultural heritage of the Ngiyampaa people on the Cobar Peneplains. A study of the rock art of the Cobar Pediplain was completed by F.D. McCarthy in 1976 where he states, they are the “finest series of rock paintings in southeastern Australia.” 

North west of Brewarrina, the Innisfail property is part of the Mundiwa Aboriginal camp inhabited up until the early 1900s by Jimmie Barker and others who documented Muruwari culture. 

The property is rich in biodiversity with 22 fauna and two threatened species observed, including the endangered listed Hooded Robin and vulnerable listed Grey-crowned Babbler. 

The property at Innisfail also features 4,000ha of Coolibah - Black Box Woodland and riverine habitat along a 20km stretch of the Culgoa River as well as numerous other channels and waterholes on floodplains. 

Following the acquisitions, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will undergo extensive planning to determine how best to protect the environmental and cultural heritage values of these new reserves.

Work including feral animal control and fire management will be carried out. 

Previous purchases

 These three acquisitions nearly double new additions for the 2024-25 financial year to a total of more than 73,000ha. The NSW national parks network now totals almost 7,774,000 ha. 

Acquisitions of other pastoral stations in the western plains occurred in:

• December 2022, Brindigabba, 33,900 ha north west of Bourke, which is adjacent to the Naree and Yantabulla Stations protected as private nature reserves in perpetuity in June 2022.

• February 2023, Thurloo Downs, 437,394 ha near Hungerford north west of Bourke. The single largest acquisition in national parks history at almost twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory.

• September 2024, Comeroo, Muttawary and Maranoa Stations, 37,723ha near Yantabulla north west of Bourke, purchased to create Cuttaburra National Park.