Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan

Footbridge at Western Sydney Parklands - Quakers Hill Parkway, Sydney. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Salty Dingo

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land to which the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan applies.

The Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP) supports growth in Western Sydney until 2056 and beyond. The CPCP supports the delivery of housing, jobs and infrastructure while protecting important biodiversity, including threatened plants and animals.

We are now implementing the CPCP, which was approved by the NSW Government in August 2022 and by the Australian Government in March 2024.

Cultural burning as a part of Aboriginal land management. Credit: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

The Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy contributes to the vision of healthy Country and thriving communities. The strategy will foster meaningful partnerships in western Sydney to ensure Aboriginal people are at the forefront of implementing the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan and will benefit from its opportunities.

Warialda Creek, Warialda NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Neil Fenelon

Your land may be home to rare and important native vegetation not found anywhere else in Australia or the world. If you live or own land with native vegetation in any of the 8 local Government areas of the Cumberland Plain, you need to know about the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan. 

The conservation plan

The CPCP has 26 commitments and 131 actions designed to improve ecological resilience and protect biodiversity in western Sydney by 2056. A further 8 ecological biodiversity enhancements were announced jointly by the NSW ministers for planning and environment in March 2024.

Koala in tree, Wollondilly Koala Project. Credit: Bear Hunt Photography / Save Our Species program

Read about the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan and the series of actions to improve the CPCP’s biodiversity outcomes.

Aerial view of the Cumberland Plain area.

Read about the Department's spatial map and the process for landowners to request a CPCP modification request.

Delivering the plan

The NSW Government has announced a series of actions to enhance the CPCP's biodiversity outcomes to ensure we get the balance right between the need for additional housing and protecting western Sydney’s unique biodiversity. Read below on how we are delivering the plan.

Shaping the future of western Sydney 

From 21 October – 11 November 2024, we conducted a survey to gather insights into how residents in western Sydney use and value green spaces. We also asked how they feel about their local environment, health, wellbeing, and social connections.

Thank you to everyone who participated and provided feedback. We’re excited to share the results of the survey. 

Your feedback is important and helps us understand what it's like to live in western Sydney and will help us deliver the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan. 

View survey results snapshot (PDF, 2 MB) 

Key achievements

Read the key achievements delivered as part of the CPCP’s commitments and actions, as of 28 February 2025.

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Conservation lands

  • Bought a total of 783 Cumberland Plain Woodland credits and retired 680 biodiversity credits equivalent to 63.3 ha of Cumberland Plain Woodland.
  • The Office of Strategic Lands prepared independent valuation reports to buy up to 6 properties through the CPCP avoided land voluntary purchase program. One offer has been accepted and negotiations are underway to purchase this land under the CPCP. 
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Protecting koalas and securing conservation land

  • Transferred 916 ha to National Parks and Wildlife Service for the Georges River Koala National Park (970 ha have now been transferred in total).
  • Purchased 17.72 hectares of land to extend Gulguer Koala National Park.
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Caring for Country

  • Released the Caring for Country Outcomes Strategy 2024–2033 and established a Caring for Country Council Working Group.
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Ecological restoration

  • Planted 20,000 trees and shrubs at Appin Road over 4 hectares to restore koala habitat.
  • Helped regenerate 2.5 hectares at Long Point and Appin Road.
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Partnering

  • Worked with over 60 partners and completed about 110 projects for CPCP actions, including buying and retiring biodiversity credits, ecological restoration, safe fauna crossings, koala-exclusion fencing, and delivering the Caring for Country Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy.
  • Partnered with WaterNSW to construct the Upper Canal koala-friendly crossing.
  • Partnered with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils to establish a CPCP compliance unit and carry out a 12-month pilot with CPCP councils and administer the Caring for Country Council Grants Program (over 2 years). 
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Implementation funding

  • Committed around $137 million over the next 4 years to deliver CPCP actions. This includes purchasing land in Gulguer, buying avoided land properties, retiring Cumberland Plain Woodland credits, ecological restoration in Gulguer and Georges River Koala National Park, and delivering on Caring for Country actions.
  • Prepared for the start of the strategic biodiversity component of the Housing and Productivity Contribution on 1 July 2024, which funds CPCP implementation through developer contributions on CPCP certified urban-capable land.
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Protecting important biodiversity

This plan will contribute to western Sydney by supporting the delivery of housing, jobs and infrastructure while protecting important biodiversity including threatened plants and animals.

For enquiries:

For translation, phone 13 14 50 and ask for an interpreter in your language to connect you to 02 9585 6060. Then ask for the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan team.

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