The Timbers, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) has criticised a New South Wales government $60 million plan to establish the Great Koala National Park in the state's north.
The Minns government announced up to 176,000 hectares of state forest will be part of the proposed boundary alongside existing national park to create a 476,000 hectare reserve that aims to protect over 12,000 koalas.
The proposed park area will range from around North West Rocks and will reach close to Grafton.
Around $60 million of funding has been put aside, on top of $80 million already pledged to the park in 2023.
Koala numbers have been impacted by habitat loss, as well as serious bushfire events in recent years.
According to government figures, koalas are on track to be extinct in the wild in New South Wa