A recent study has shown that Greater Gliders have suffered severe declines across every South Coast National Park - except Seven Mile Beach National Park. Coomonderry Swamp - the state’s largest coastal freshwater wetland - is a vital habitat for many threatened and endangered species, including Greater Gliders, the Green and Golden Bell Frog, and the Australasian Bittern. Sadly, most of this pristine 670-hectare freshwater wetland lies unprotected, outside the National Park.
In the 1950s, koalas disappeared from Seven Mile Beach. Greater gliders now face that same fate, unless the government acts. Research has shown that Greater Gliders require at least 1000 hectares of connected habitat to survive. Coomonderry Swamp and the surrounding habitat adjoining Seven Mile Beach National Park could provide a critical refuge for greater gliders and other ecological communities.
Right now, just half of the vegetation of Seven Mile Beach is protected as part of Seven Mile Beach National Park. The remaining habitat is home to 7 endangered ecological communities and 13 endangered bird and animal species. Unprotected areas of Seven Mile Beach are under imminent pressure from sand mining, land clearing, and development - some of this vegetation has already been cleared!
We’re calling on the NSW Government to urgently:
- Expand Seven Mile Beach National Park to include adjoining freehold and council-managed land essential for the survival of the Greater Glider population.
- Stop further sand mining and development on land adjoining the Park.
- Protect Coomonderry Swamp and surrounding wetlands, incorporating them into the conservation estate.
- Restore habitat corridors, protect remaining native forests and restore habitat to link the Seven Mile Beach gliders to hinterland populations to reduce isolation and strengthen long-term resilience.