08-05-2025
Campers, tourists and wildlife to benefit as Aussie national parks set to massively expand
As the weather cools down and Aussies become homebodies, there's a new reason to venture into the great outdoors.
The Murray River National Park is set to be expanded. Source: DLDEW
Bigger than Melbourne's massive CBD, almost three times the size of Sydney's, a major new expansion of national parks has been announced. The borders of three popular destinations in South Australia will be extended by a whopping 725 hectares, protecting the state's plants, wildlife and cultural sites.
Campers will benefit from the expansion of Murray River National Park, while sightseers will be excited the Riverland's Maize Lagoon Conservation Park is growing because it includes ruins of historical dwellings. The parks are also home to rare creatures including the regent parrot, southern bell frog and blue-faced honeyeater.
Important migratory bird species will also see their futures safeguarded by the growth of Sceale Bay Conservation Park on Eyre Peninsula. It's home to species protected by international agreements Australia has signed with Japan and China.
At just 280 hectares, Sydney's CBD could fit into New York's Central Park
Melbourne's sprawling CBD is around 620 hectares.
When you include its sprawling parklands, Adelaide is a massive 1050 hectares.
New additions will be made to the Murray River National Park. Source: DLDEW
The Sceale Bay Conservation Park is one of the three parks set to expand. Source: DLDEW
Important additions to the Riverland's Maize Lagoon Conservation Park have been made. Source: DLDEW
Will national parks continue to grow?
The state's environment minister Dr Susan Close said the plan would give Australians improved opportunities to 'connect with nature'.
'South Australia's national and conservation parks are home to an abundance of native animals and plants that we must protect now to ensure they remain sustainable in the future. They are also hugely popular with seven out of 10 South Australians visiting our parks annually,' she said.
Related: Remarkable find in shadow of Australia's tallest mountain
Campers, walkers, and wildlife are all set to benefit from the expansion of South Australia's national parks. Source: DLDEW
National parks across the state look set to expand with the government saying a proposal to add 1,840 hectares to the Seal Bay Sanctuary zone off Kangaroo Island has also received 'overwhelming' public support.
It said the changes align with a state and federal government commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of Australia's waters and land by 2030.
Elsewhere around the country, Australians are continuing to push for the creation of new national parks.
In Victoria, bushwalkers, nature lovers and campers are calling on the Allan government to recognise 350,000 acres of green space in the Central Highlands as the Great Forest National Park (GFNP).
Further north in NSW, the Minns Government has been repeatedly urged to follow through with its 2023 election promise to create a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast.
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