Most rural land exempt from new NSW Coalition rules to protect koala habitat

Conservation groups argue excising farming and forestry zones is a catastrophic setback for the species'

The NSW Coalition has agreed to new rules to protect koala habitat but will effectively exempt most rural land from more stringent rules administered through the planning process.

Instead, koala habitat on rural land will be covered by yet-to-be-announced protections under land-clearing laws administered by NSW Local Land Services through the primary industries portfolio.