Greater Murramarang

Greater Murramarang is one of the finest coastal forests in NSW. Its exceedingly high biodiversity, magnificent spotted gum forests and rainforests, and the most pristine coastal lake in NSW, make it an area of enormous community concern. In fact, the lesser (current) Murramarang National Park is the most highly visited national park on the NSW coast south of the Royal National Park at Sydney.

Greater Murramarang is an extension to Murramarang National Park, stretching north along the coast from Batemans Bay to Bawley Point, and inland to the Princes Highway. It covers all of Kioloa State Forest, the eastern half of Benandarah State Forest, part of South Brooman State Forest, the lake bed of Durras Lake, and an adjacent area of vacant crown land.

Greater Murramarang covers 10,396 ha, including 10,189 ha of state forest and 207 ha of vacant crown land. In addition, the proposal extends across the bed of Durras Lake, and down to the low tide line.

Some of the conservation values of Greater Murramarang are listed below:

Greater Murramarang is classified as Coastal Zone under the NSW Coastal Policy, 1997. It is an important duel forest-coastal National Park proposal.

Greater Murramarang is entirely covered by National Estate, in recognition of its exceptional conservation values. In fact, there are three separate listing covering the area.

Greater Murramarang is a biodiversity hot spot, containing 207 species of birds, 39 mammals and over 400 plant species.

Greater Murramarang contains diverse rainforest, including rare stands of subtropical/warm temperate rainforest and littoral rainforest, and over 20 rainforest species at the edge of their known range.

Greater Murramarang contains 26 threatened animal species, making it one of the richest areas in threatened species habitat in Southern NSW.

Greater Murramarang protects Durras Lake, the most pristine coastal lake in NSW.

Greater Murramarang contains significant Aboriginal cultural values ­ 187 sites are recorded in the Benandarah section alone.

Greater Murramarang must be extended to make Murramarang National Park ecologically viable ­ parts of the park are as little as 50 metres wide, and the 44km length of the park is an average of only 366 metres wide.

Greater Murramarang is a focal point for regional tourism; with an estimated 690,000 visitors in 1990, Tourism NSW considered it a "feature of State significance."