Threatened plants and animals will be protected and a sacred Aboriginal site preserved with the Minns Labor Government’s purchase of Broughton Vale Station, 75 kilometres east of Broken Hill in Far West NSW.
This is one of 12 land acquisitions made in 2024 to expand the network of national parks in NSW by just over 36,000 hectares. It makes more of our natural environment available to the public and delivers on the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to turn around biodiversity loss and restore habitats and ecosystems.
The 31,500-hectare Broughton Vale Station includes the Kukirrka or Burkes Cave, a sacred Aboriginal birthing cave used for more than 2,000 years, and other significant cultural sites containing artworks and engravings.
The cave and a nearby freshwater spring were also used by Burke and Wills during their 1860 expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and as a Cobb and Co stopover between Broken Hill and Wilcannia.
At least 70 threatened species have been recorded close to Broughton Vale Station including purple-wood wattle, Barrier Range dragon, pink cockatoo, Stimson’s python and the creeping Darling pea. It also includes vegetation types and landscapes not found in any other national park in NSW. More than half the property supports the Threatened Ecological Community Neila (Acacia loderi) tall shrubland.
The property adjoins the recently created Langidoon-Medford State Conservation Area. Together these reserves will permanently protect around 92,000 hectares conserving threatened plant and animal species and cultural landscapes.
NSW ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will work with Aboriginal communities to ensure the protection of important cultural sites. NPWS will also carry out feral animal and weed control and ensure fire trail access. Future visitor facilities could include a campsite and walking trails.
In 2024, the NSW Government secured more than 36,000 hectares to expand existing parks, create new ones and protect critical habitats. Six acquisitions directly protect koala habitat, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s action to save koalas from extinction in NSW.
The national parks estate covers about 10% of NSW and contains a diverse range of landscapes. NSW records more than 53 million domestic visits to national parks a year, plus many more by international travellers.
Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:
“The sacred site on Broughton Vale Station holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning for Aboriginal communities and we have taken action to preserve it for generations to come.
“Adding this land to the national parks network is an important step forward in environmental and cultural conservation in NSW. It will also greatly enhance ecological, educational, cultural and tourism opportunities in our Far West.
“The Minns Labor Government is committed to turning around the loss and restoring habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity, and expanding our national parks is one way we are delivering on that commitment.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris:
“It cannot be understated how fundamental the preservation of this sacred land is for Traditional Owners and the broader community.
“The Broughton Vale Station contains sites of enormous cultural significance to the local Aboriginal community and I am proud the Minns Labor Government has taken the steps to ensure this Country will be protected for generations to come.”
Quote regarding Burkes Cave/Kukirrka, attributable to Barkandji elder, Dot Stephens:
“We haven’t had access to Burkes Cave in many years and being able to return to the site I helped assess in the early 90s is so important in us being able to look after country.
“When I was told that the Minister had purchased Burkes Cave, I burst into tears. The site is a spiritual place, a woman’s site, and it connects our country from Mutawintji to the Menindee Lakes and beyond.”
Quote regarding Burkes Cave/Kukirrka, attributable to Barkandji elder, Feona Bates:
“It is so important that ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Parks purchase places like Broughton Vale as it allows us to look after the place.
“There are men’s and women’s sites on the property, and we need to protect them.”
Additional land added to the national park system in 2024:
Koala habitat:
- Addition to Guula Ngurra ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park
589 hectares, 25km northwest of Mittagong, to connect Guula Ngurra ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park to Bangadilly ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park. It is in a stronghold area of a known high priority koala population. It is suitable habitat for 30 locally-threatened species including glossy black cockatoo and southern greater glider.
- Addition to Nymboi-Binderay ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park
40 hectares, 45km northwest of Coffs Harbour, which provides habitat for 21 threatened fauna species including koala, rufous bettong, gliders, bats, other mammals and birds.
- Addition to Khatambuhl ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park
Two areas totalling 12597nbsp;hectares, 50km northwest of Taree, linking Bretti Nature Reserve with Khatambuhl Nature Reserve. It is located in a corridor between three koala Priority Population Areas and 70% of the property contains koala feed trees. The habitat is suitable for more than 20 other threatened species including the Manning River helmeted turtle, southern greater glider, white-flowered wax plant, craven grey box, scrub turpentine and stuttering frog.
- Addition to Cottan-Bimbang ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park
Two areas, 398 hectares and 487 hectares, 45km northwest of Wauchope have been added to the national park. The land includes 4km of Ralfes Creek, a major tributary of the Hastings River. It is suitable for 22 threatened species, notably koala, southern greater glider, scrub turpentine, magenta lilly pilly and giant barred frog.
- Addition to Dangelong Nature Reserve
784 hectares, 20km southeast of Cooma, featuring high to very high-quality koala habitat in the Kybeyan Range, a Southern Tablelands koala hot spot. It is suitable habitat for 25 other threatened species including gang-gang cockatoo, little eagle, hooded robin, dusky woodswallow, spotted-tailed quoll and pale pomaderris.
- Addition to Barrington Tops ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park
867 hectares, 60km northeast of Muswellbrook, featuring koalas and glossy black cockatoos as well as habitat for 22 other threatened fauna species including the specked warbler and Davies tree frog which occurs only above 400m in the region.
Highland wetlands:
- Addition to Doodle Comer Swamp Nature Reserve
41 hectares, 60km south of Wagga Wagga, featuring a wetland of national significance. Doodle Comer Swamp is a Declared Aboriginal Place with cultural significance to the Wiradjuri People. The acquisition protects cultural heritage sites, two threatened ecological communities and seven threatened species including the endangered Australasian bittern and Bush stone-curlew.
- Addition to Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
18 hectares, 39km south of Glen Innes, which protects the remainder of the Ramsar-listed wetland Billy Bung Lagoon and its catchment. It contains four Threatened Ecological Communities.
Cultural Heritage:
- Butterfly Cave
26 hectares at West Wallsend which protects the sacred Butterfly Cave and the surrounding cultural landscape, including vital aquifers, traditional journey paths, creeks, stone arrangements and food source areas.
