The state government is allocating $20 million to save koala populations in the Hunter region.
Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton has identified Port Stephens as a priority area for the private land purchase scheme, as part of a $44.7 million statewide commitment to the iconic Australian marsupial.
Environmental reports forecast the NSW koala population could be extinct by 2050 without intervention.
The government is keen to purchase properties with occupied koala habitat situated near or adjoining areas like Gir-um-bit National Park; Myall Lakes; Tomaree; Hunter Wetlands; Tillegerry and the Worimi or Wallaroo National Parks; Karuah; Moffats Swamp Nature Reserves and Medowie.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said there's not much time so landholders will need to apply quickly.
"We're trying to encourage people to think about land where there's evidence of koalas, there's a sustainable population, there's some size and scale," he explained, "[interested landholders] will hold a discussion with the Office of Environment and Heritage and see if it can qualify.
"This is only open until December 6th."
Community groups and other interested parties are also welcome to propose land with suitable koala habitat for inclusion in the national park estate.
The state opposition has long been critical of Minister Upton's stance on koalas, with Labor last month accusing the government of failing the animals, by introducing new biodiversity conservation laws which mean Port Stephens koalas cannot be listed as 'endangered' with the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Labor's environment spokesperson Penny Sharpe took to the floor of parliament later in September to accuse the Berejiklian Government of ongoing deforestation and tree clearing reforms.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington today said she's not convinced about the new land purchase package.
"I can't say that it would work - we've got a situation where people are being asked within six weeks whether they'd like their land bought up and to put a price on it," Ms Washington said.
"For people to be able to do that in the timeframe is really difficult. What I would ask the government to do is firstly buy back Mambo Wetlands which they should never have sold off. They should also be including the Fishermans Bay land that's owned by Landcom and was going to be developed by Landcom until the community took the government to court and stopped them," the MP said.
There's also been a lukewarm response from the NSW Greens, with MP Dawn Walker describing the scheme as inadequate to stopping the future decline of koalas.
"While the state government's proposal...is a logical step, it's alarming that the government refuses to apply the same strategic oversight to protecting core koala habitat on public lands, like state forests."
Scot MacDonald believes a Mambo Wetlands buy-back could be possible in future, but only if its owners are prepared to cooperate and sell the land for a price representing value for the taxpayer.
Full details on the private land purchase scheme are available here.
