The Time to Protect Link Road Forest Is Now
Link Road Forest is a precious strip of urban bushland — home to wildlife, loved by locals, and vital for our community’s future. Help us protect it.
10,456 signatures were collected for our ePetition to the NSW Legislative Council. Read what happens from here.
6,000+
Paper petition signatures
10,456
Online e-petition signatures
400+
Species recorded
5
Years of advocacy
574ha
Forest under threat
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Why it matters
Protect What Can’t Be Replaced
Link Road Forest provides irreplaceable ecological, social, and wellbeing benefits to the surrounding suburbs. Once gone, it cannot be replaced.
As one of the region’s last remaining large unprotected forest areas, Link Road Forest plays a critical role in supporting biodiversity, wildlife movement and ecological resilience. It also strengthens community wellbeing by preserving access to nature, reducing environmental pressures and protecting the qualities that make our region liveable.
Some places are too important to lose. Link Road Forest is one of them.
Wildlife corridor
The forest is a critical refuge and movement corridor for native species including koala, squirrel glider, microbats, and over 100 bird species
Urban cooling
Mature trees reduce local temperatures by up to 8°C in summer, protecting nearby residents from heat stress as our climate changes.
Community wellbeing
Green space access is directly linked to reduced anxiety, better mental health outcomes, and stronger social connection among local residents.
Stormwater management
The forest naturally filters and absorbs stormwater runoff, protecting downstream waterways and reducing flood risk in the catchment.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
The Threat to Link Road Forest
Link Road Forest is facing its biggest threat yet.
The privately owned land, held by Eden Estates, is the subject of long-running development plans that could see large areas of this precious forest cleared for housing development if rezoning is approved. The proposal would fundamentally change one of our region’s last significant remaining native forests — replacing wildlife habitat and green space with urban expansion.
Most of Link Road Forest is currently protected by conservation-related zoning and environmental planning controls. But the NSW Government is now progressing a state-led rezoning process that could remove those protections and open the door to large-scale development.
This next stage is critical.
The NSW Government is expected to consider the future of this land in the second half of 2026. Before then, we have a powerful opportunity to show decision-makers the overwhelming local support for protecting Link Road Forest for wildlife, community wellbeing and future generations.
This forest cannot be replaced once it is gone.
By building a strong community voice now, we can demonstrate that people across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie want a different future — one that protects biodiversity, preserves vital green space, and secures permanent protection for Link Road Forest.
Join the growing movement to protect Link Road Forest.
The forest
Where is Link Road Forest?
Located on the western fringe of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW, the forest runs along Link Road and represents one of the last significant pockets of urban bushland in the area. It sits within walking distance of thousands of households.
Location: Spans both sides of Newcastle Link Road, Wallsend, from the Summerhill Waste Management Centre in the north to Glendale in the south.
Vegetation type: Australian native forest incorporating 10 plant communities, two of which are threatened ecological communities.
Area: Approximately 574 hectares.
20+ Threatened species: Koala, squirrel glider, several microbat species, glossy black cockatoo, masked owl, powerful owl, plus many more!
Zoning status: Currently mostly zoned environmental, under consideration for rezoning to drive in, drive out residential development.
Access: Walking distance from Wallsend, Elermore Vale, Glendale, Edgeworth, Cameron Park, Minmi, Maryland and Fletcher.
Campaign timeline
Historic Timeline
The campaign has been building momentum. Here’s the story so far.
14th August 2026: ePetition Closed
On the 14th of August 2026 our epetition to the Legislative Council (Upper House) of NSW Parliament for permanent protection of the Link Road Forest, closed after 3 months with 10,456 signatures.
21st June 2026: Concert
Winter Solstice Concert attracted 100 people to an afternoon of wonderful singing for the forest by 6 local music groups.
5th May 2026: Nature NSW Report
Nature NSW report published proposing the Link Road Forest is one of the five preferred acquisitions by the state government as offsets to the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP). Eleven high biodiverse sites were identified for preservation in perpetuity in the report.
18th April 2026: Mayoral Byelection
Newcastle Lord Mayor elected in byelection, prior to election committed to the Council’s position in endorsing the proposal to make Link Road Forest a national park. He has confirmed that support since being elected Lord Mayor.
22nd March 2026: Rally
Rally to stop clearing native forest. Hundreds showed their support to protect native forests and their habitat by marching to Sharon Claydon’s office and back to Civic Park.
2nd December 2025: NCC Briefing
Link Road Forest Campaign presented a Public Briefing to Newcastle Council on its proposal to have Link Road Forest made a national park.
November 2025: Reports
Received development reports from NSW Planning Department in response to Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application.
12th October 2025: NCC Pledge
Rally to launch campaign to make Link Road Forest a national park.
27th July 2025: State Significant Rezoning
The NSW Government declares Link Road Forest to be State Significant Rezoning to enable rezoning from environmental zonings to housing release to be fast-tracked.
3rd November 2024: Rally
Rally in Birdwood Park to Protect Native Forests.
14th September 2024: NCC Pledge
Newcastle Lord Mayor and 10 of 12 councillors elected had committed, prior to their being elected, to not supporting the clearing of native forest for housing development on the grounds of biodiversity loss and climate change impacts.
2023: Termination
The Department of Planning terminated the Gateway Process due to inadequate provision by the proponent of requested information.
Mid-2022: Member Meetings
Campaigners met separately with Tim Crakenthorp and Sharon Claydon to brief them on the value of the forest.
10th April 2022: Rally
Rally in Birdwood Park to Save Link Road Forest.
December 2021: NCC Pledge
Newcastle Lord Mayor and 8 of the 12 councillors elected had signed a pledge before being elected to not support clearing native forest for housing development.
23rd September 2021: Independent ecological survey
First action to save Link Road Forest on the the side of Newcastle Link Rd.
4th August 2021: Public Meeting
Online Public Meeting hosted by the Hunter Community Environment Centre. Two hundred people attended.
19th May 2021: LMCC Approval
Lake Macquarie City Council approved Planning Proposal to proceed to Gateway – NSW Dept of Planning
Latest updates
Events
For the Forest – Live Music, Speakers, Pizza and Trivia
We’re very excited to announce For the Forest, a special night of live music, speakers, pizza and trivia in support of the campaign to save Link Road Forest.
Link Road Forest Winter Solstice Concert – Sunday 21 June 2026 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Compered by Alan Glover, this will be an afternoon concert to cheer all on the shortest day of the year.Six inspiring musical acts: The Doctor’s Wife, Steel City Sue, Derek Dowding, Gabrielle Newland, Tripple Effect, Two Voices in the Crowd Our concert is raising…
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