In a significant move for local conservation, Newcastle City Council has voted to support a community campaign aiming to permanently protect a large tract of bushland from a major housing development and have it declared a national park.
A Council Stands with the Community
The decision, made this week, saw all but two Liberal councillors throw their support behind the push to conserve the 574 hectares of bushland known as Link Road Forest. The area, which straddles the local government boundaries of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, is currently earmarked by the state government for rezoning to accommodate the massive Eden Estates project, which proposes building approximately 4200 new homes.
The council's endorsement follows a detailed briefing earlier in December where passionate community members outlined the profound ecological value of the land. The forest includes parcels at 144 Boundary Road, Wallsend, and adjoining land in Glendale.
Ecological Significance and a Rare Koala Population
Councillors were presented with compelling evidence of the area's high environmental value. A key point of contention is the presence of critical koala habitat. Labor Councillor Deahnna Richardson emphasised the site's unique importance, stating it hosts "one of the only chlamydia-free koala populations in NSW."
"Protecting those populations that don't have that infection is of vital importance to making sure that we preserve the population and continue to allow it to grow," Cr Richardson said.
Labor Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk echoed the community's sentiment, arguing that the highest use for the land is preservation. "We know the physical, the mental health benefits to our community in the area. We know that we need to do this to protect our remaining parcels of bushland," she said. "We know that fragmentation and the loss of bush is a critical threat to our own survival as humans, but not to mention, of course, the survival of the many endangered and threatened species."
Developer Response and Next Steps for the Campaign
In response to the campaign, a spokesman for Eden Estates stated that all natural constraints and opportunities are being assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, which will inform the final land use. The developer claims to have undertaken considerable ecological assessments and a recent comprehensive koala survey.
"The result of these investigations will then inform the land use planning for the site," the spokesman said, adding that drone and ground surveys "indicated there were no koalas present on the site." The developer also pointed to the worsening housing crisis in NSW, asserting the site can provide much-needed housing supply for Newcastle's growth.
The council's vote translates into several concrete actions:
- Formally endorsing the campaign for state government acquisition of the land for permanent conservation.
- Writing to Lake Macquarie City Council Mayor Adam Shultz to seek a united front and propose a joint planning workshop in early 2026.
- Writing to relevant state ministers to request a meeting to discuss the national park proposal.
- Seeking a report on the social, economic, and environmental benefits of protecting the land.
- Investigating whether biodiversity offset funds from the Hunter Transmission Project could help acquire the forest.
- Asking the Guraki Committee for advice on an appropriate name for the potential national park.
The community's desire for conservation appears strong. During public consultation on the council's Local Strategic Planning Statement, 99 per cent of 556 submissions supported conserving high-value environmental areas within the Eden Estates land. The council's backing now sets the stage for a crucial negotiation with state authorities over the future of this significant green space.
