Croobyar

Croobyar is an area of extremely rare extensive coastal old-growth forest, bordering the Morton National Park and Budawangs Wilderness, within a few kilometres of the famous Pigeon House Mountain. It lies just inland from Milton and Ulladulla. It also contains fantastic warm-temperate and sub-tropical rainforest and sandstone open eucalypt forest and heath. Croobyar lies along a ridgeline centred by Mt Kingiman, a cliff-surrounded plateau overlooking the magnificent Budawang Wilderness (including Pigeon House Mountain and the Castle). The Mt Kingiman ridge drops through steep ridges and rainforest valleys to the near-coastal flat, forested plains.

Croobyar contains 2,931 ha of State Forest.

Some of the conservation values of Croobyar are listed below:

Croobyar contains extensive near-coastal old-growth forest and rainforest adjoining the Budawangs Wilderness and Morton National Park. It contains diverse warm-temperate and sub-tropical rainforest, and old-growth forest dominated by gigantic Turpentine trees which may reach 1,000 years old.

Croobyar is an important Aboriginal place; Mt Kingiman was a traditional meeting place for the region's tribes.

Croobyar was entirely deferred from logging after the Interim Assessment Process in recognition of its outstanding conservation values.

Croobyar is a high biodiversity area, and contains such threatened species as the Powerful Owl, Masked Owl, Sooty Owl, and Yellow-bellied Glider.

Croobyar has values required in a CAR reserve system. It contributes significantly to JANIS scientific targets for forest ecosystems 50, 62 and 83, and meets 50% of the target for two rare plants.

Croobyar used to contain a large area which was added to the Budawangs Wilderness and Morton National Park in 1996. The rest of Croobyar contains similar or even greater values, and is divided from the Budawangs Wilderness only by a small fire trail.

Croobyar is an area of high community concern. It held a blockade of logging operations which was successful in halting logging in the area and which made front page news in the Sydney Morning Herald in the lead up to the last State Election. From the Croobyar campaign was formed the local community group Shoalhaven Forest Watch, a member group of the South East Forest Alliance.

Croobyar has enormous value for tourism. Lying within 10km of the coast, and beneath the famous Pigeon House Mountain on the edge of the Budawangs, it is highly favourably placed for tourism and recreation.