Local campaigners have welcomed an announcement that Killalea State Park will become one of NSW's newest Regional Parks.
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Environment Minister Matt Kean said the transfer, from NSW Crown Lands to the NSW National Parks Estate, was a major win for the community who have campaigned for greater protections for some time.
"Killalea is an area of incredible ecological and cultural importance and a space that is much loved by locals attracting about 30,000 visitors a month," Mr Kean said.
"As a Regional Park, Killalea will continue to be treasured, while at the same time its plants, animals, birds and threatened species will be protected for future generations."
Convenor of the Save Killalea Alliance Committee (SKA), Peter Moran, said the group was pleased with the announcement, but still had some concerns.
"This significant step is all down to the thousands of community members who have attended rallies, signed petitions, put up signs in their yards, bought T-shirts and generally made their voices heard," he said.
"Killalea has been in the sights of developers for decades, and this is just another attempt at development that has been fought off by the community.
"The Save Killalea Alliance is not going away. We will be prepared to spring back into action at a moments notice if we are needed to defend our park again.
"The environmental, Indigenous heritage, cultural and social values of this special place are too important to leave it at the mercy of the rent seekers who look at this publicly owned treasure and only see dollar signs."
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the 260-hectare park will be dedicated as a Regional Park and protected by national parks legislation.
"Dedication of Killalea Regional Park will ensure this spectacular coastal location remains a pristine spot for camping, world class surfing, bushwalking, fishing and picnics," Mrs Pavey said.
"The reserve is currently managed by Reflections Holiday Parks who welcome the outcome for it to come under the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and recognise its unique environmental and cultural values."
The Park is home to diverse vegetation types that support nine endangered ecological communities and provides habitat for many bird species.
Migratory shorebirds such as the Sooty and Pied Oyster Catcher are also known to nest at Killalea.
NPWS will develop a new Plan of Management for Killalea Regional Park when the transfer takes place, working with local residents, Aboriginal groups, Council, the surfing community and environmental groups.
Mr Moran said the SKA Committee were keen to be part of that process.
"We will continue to advocate for a management structure which involves community members in writing a new Plan of Management for the park, we will fight to have the Park run by a community-based committee in the future and we will push for Reflections to appropriately maintain the Park until July when their tenure ends," he said.
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