Casuarina Coastal Reserve declared a national park
The Reserve has officially been declared a park and has grown to include an extra 34 ha with the addition of Lot 9458, previously managed by Department Infrastructure Planning and Logistics.
The Northern Territory’s much loved Casuarina Coastal Reserve has officially been declared a park and has been expanded to include an additional 34 ha of bushland. Formal declaration under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (TPWC Act) ensures the ongoing protection of this cherished recreational attraction.
The changes to the Reserve are in line with the NT Parks Masterplan 2023-2053 goal of growing the estate to create a strengthened and expanded Northern Territory system of parks and reserves. One action was to review smaller parks and reserves and identify opportunities for improved park boundaries or expansion to increase public benefit where an area is not suitable for transition.
Adding Lot 9458 to the Reserve is a boost to conservation, as this area is home to dry monsoon rainforest, the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat and Croton habrophyllus, the host plant for the endangered Atlas Moth. It also provides an improved connection between the Reserve and the neighbouring Buffalo Creek Management Area, which is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by NT Parks and Wildlife.
Protection under the TPWC Act ensures that any development is minimal and must be consistent with maintaining the values of the park. Visitor use will remain the same, ensuring that popular activities like dog walking, picnicking and cycling can still be enjoyed.
The next step is to draft a statutory Plan of Management for the Reserve, which will be released for public comment before finalisation, allowing Territorians to have their say on the future management of the declared park.
The new park is yet to be named and the public will have an exciting chance to suggest possible future names for the Reserve and newly incorporated land.
