Vast national park to be created and native animals protected after NSW government land purchase

The area is home to birds such as the plains wanderer, one of Australia’s most endangered birds. Photograph: NSW government/Alex Pike

Habitat for more than 50 threatened species will be preserved as part of a new land acquisition by the New South Wales government that will become the state’s third-largest national park.

The 437,394 hectare site, which is called Thurloo Downs and is about 250 kilometres from Bourke in the state’s north-west, contains globally significant arid zone wetlands, as well as salt lakes, playas and other geological formations that are unprotected elsewhere in NSW.