NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in Cobar yesterday to announce the NSW Government would be handing back more than 15,000 hectares of land to Aboriginal owners to form the new Mount Grenfell National Park and the Mount Grenfell State Conservation Area.
The Premier paid a visit to the Mount Grenfell site yesterday morning accompanied by members of the Cobar Local Aboriginal Land Council, members of the Mount Grenfell Board of Management and National Parks and Wildlife Service staff.
The new National Park and State Conservation Area will add 15,285 hectares to the existing Mount Grenfell Historic Site effectively forming a protective ring around some of the most significant Aboriginal art and cultural sites in Australia.
The Premier said these new reservations mean the protected area at Mount Grenfell now covers nearly 17,000 hectares.
“This area is home to the renowned Ngiyampaa rock art galleries and a rich cultural landscape of immense significance to the Aboriginal community,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Reserving these lands supports Aboriginal owners in maintaining their physical and spiritual connection to Country.”
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the return of these lands to their traditional owners not only has immense cultural significance but an important environmental significance as well.
“These parks are irreplaceable and an important part of our commitment to add 400,000 hectares of national park to our network by the end of 2022,” Mr Kean said.
“The new parks build on existing protections, securing outback ecosystems including habitat for some 130 bird species and 12 threatened species.”
The new park will be Aboriginal-owned land held by Cobar Aboriginal Land Council and co-managed with the Mount Grenfell Board of Management and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
