A major sheep and cattle station will be converted into a national park to protect vital wetlands and bird habitat in outback NSW.
The state government has bought three stations, collectively known as Comeroo, northwest of Bourke to turn into a park spanning more than 37,000 hectares.
The area includes alluvial floodplains and other wetlands, including Yantabulla Swamp, which hosts thousands of waterbirds.
Threatened species expected to benefit from the protected area include the stripe-faced dunnart, black-breasted buzzard and the pink cockatoo.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the park would protect vital wetlands and some of Australia’s best waterbird breeding sites.
“Wetlands are some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, which is why this acquisition is so important,” she said.
The purchase, reportedly worth nearly $13 million, was funded by the state government with support from The Nature Conservancy.
Comeroo also contains important Indigenous cultural sites for the local Budjiti, Kunja, Gurnu-Barkandji and Muruwari people.
The national park is expected to be opened to the public in late 2024 after it has been formally established and named.
AAP
