Koonaburra Regeneration Project

Koonaburra Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located at the former Koonaburra Station, approximately 140km south-west of Cobar and 100km north-east of Ivanhoe in western NSW. It was registered in October 2021 and covers 46,028.12 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. To achieve this, the project involves the humane management of feral animals on land where vegetation had been cleared and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years.

The Cobar and Ivanhoe region is known for large-scale pastoral operations, primarily grazing sheep, goats, and cattle. The area is considered semi-arid with low rainfall, while soils are typically red earth varying to red sandy and heavier grey types.

Interestingly, the land underpinning this project was purchased by the NSW Government in 2021 for over $9 million to establish the Koonaburra National Park. The transition from a pastoral property to a protected area provides critical habitat for threatened species like the Major Mitchell cockatoo, Malleefowl, and the fat-tailed dunnart. In December 2025, the primary proponent name for the project was officially updated from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.