A carbon credit plan for the Great Koala National Park wins local support in Coffs Harbour

But council wants revenue raised to benefit the community.

Ellie Chamberlain
February 06, 2026

Coffs Harbour Council has publicly backed a carbon credit plan to protect parts of the Great Koala National Park and generate revenue. There’s just one condition: locals and local infrastructure must see the benefits of the money raised.

Quick refresh: The creation of the Great Koala National Park, located between Kempsey and Grafton, is entirely dependent on the installation of a carbon credit project.

The intention is to protect parts of the park and generate revenue to support conservations and park management.

A carbon credit method is an approved set of rules on how to measure, calculate and verify emissions reductions.
In the case of the GKNP, decisions made to protect native forest that would otherwise be logged would allow the NSW government to generate carbon credits.
These credits could then be sold to polluters, who can use them to offset their emissions.

A new method: The state government is proposing to generate funds using a carbon method known as Improved Native Forest Management (INFM). These funds could be used for forest restoration such as pest and fire management.

Could the Great Koala National Park create revenue through reducing carbon pollution?

The final creation of the park is dependent on the approval of a credit system.

Local support: During the January Coffs Harbour council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to pass a motion that noted their support of the INFM method.

Councillors also ask that council lodge a submission to ERAC advocating the carbon credit method ensures revenue generated is reinvested back into the affected LGAs through environmental management including bushfire hazard reduction, regional tourism and employment.

Potential revenue: Wilson Harris, from the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said there is a potential to generate $250 million of additional revenue from the establishment of the GKNP over 15 years.

Harris also said 370 new jobs could be created to manage this carbon project as well as the forest.

“This additional investment in our forests is critically important to help make our native forests more resilient to fire as we encounter hotter and more dangerous weather,” Harris said.

Boost to tourism: Harris said businesses across the Mid North Coast could build off the back of the GKNP, once it’s formally established.

“Two hundred local businesses signed onto two separate letters last year, calling on the park to be reserved,” Harris told the Mid North Coaster.

Great Koala National Park would boost local economy, say Mid North Coast business owners

Those who have signed the letter include artists; restaurant, tour, emporium and accommodation operators; builders; and an optometrist.

“Coffs Harbour Council is actually one of the only councils in New South Wales to be certified as an eco destination, which is awarded by Ecotourism Australia. So to build upon its image as this ecotourism hotspot and allow these businesses that are based on people coming into their area due to its natural beauty, and its connection to nature, will be a massive benefit for the community and region”.

Next steps: The method is currently going through an extensive assessment process and a decision.

Following a consultation process with the Emissions Reductions Assurance Committee (ERAC) in January, the NSW Government will address feedback before ERAC makes a final assessment on whether or not the INFM method meets integrity standards.

ERAC will advise the Assistant Climate Change Minister whether to approve it or not.

🗣️ The Have Your Say survey on the GKNP is open until March 1, 2026: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/great-koala-national-park.