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.
5,800+
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.
STAY UP TO DATE
Latest News
NBN: “Link Road Forest Campaign launches e-petition”
NBN News has covered the launch of a parliamentary e-petition calling on the NSW Government to protect Link Road Forest.
Take action now