Warranmadhaa: One of My Favourite Projects Just Came to Fruition

Last year I had the privilege of working with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on one of my favourite Lyrebird Dreaming projects so far - creation of a new national park to protect Sydney’s koalas.

That vision is now a reality. The Warranmadhaa National Park has been officially gazetted, safeguarding 962 hectares on D'hararwal Country along the Georges River between Long Point and Appin. It’s an area of deep cultural and ecological significance, and will eventually grow to 1,830 hectares, connecting fragmented bushland and providing a safe haven for the only known chlamydia-free koala population in New South Wales.

One of the most meaningful parts of my involvement was working with local Aboriginal community members to help find an appropriate Aboriginal name for the park. Like all important processes, it wasn’t straightforward. There were different suggestions and perspectives, especially because colonisation has so significantly affected traditional knowledge and language in the area. But in the end, Warranmadhaa was chosen. It's an Aboriginal word for the landscape in the southern areas of the reserve.

Now, that word will be spoken on Country by everyone, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, for generations to come. Language is living culture, and every time someone says “Warranmadhaa”, they will be honouring and keeping alive Aboriginal connections between peoples and place.

I also had the privilege of providing policy guidance and input into the park’s design and its first plan of management - ensuring that not only Aboriginal perspectives were embedded from the beginning, but also the latest conservation science. Because protecting the koalas protects much more.

I want to congratulate Minister Penny Sharpe and all of the dedicated NPWS staff, especially Katie, Wil, Andy, and their colleagues in the Aboriginal Partnerships, Planning and Heritage team. This moment contributes to a broader transformation they are working on: the NSW Government goal of joint-management and Aboriginal co‑stewardship for all its national parks and reserves.

National parks are more than lines on a map or places for bush-walking. They're keeping places and commitments to protect Australia's wildlife, to honour Country, and pass something better on to future generations. Warranmadhaa is a tangible expression of that. It's another step towards ensuring our kids and grand-kids can enjoy the thrill of seeing a koala in the wild.

Read more about the park here:Yahoo NewsSouth West Voice.