Seven Mile Beach Greater Glider community.
In 2021 the Gerroa Environmental Protection Society (GEPS) nominated the habitat at Seven Mile Beach (SMB) to be recognised as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBV). This nomination was underpinned by 16 studies specific to SMB and describes environmental values, including 13 endangered and threatened species and 8 endangered ecological communities (EECs).
Since this nomination, important studies provide a better understanding of the significance of the endangered Greater glider population at Seven Mile Beach. They outline how Greater gliders have suffered severe declines across all south coast National Parks except for Seven Mile Beach National Park.
Given the documented high environmental values outlined in GEPS "Area of outstanding Biodiversity Value"(AOBV) nomination and new information about the decline of endangered Greater gliders, GEPS is campaigning for the expansion of GG habitats to incorporate crown land reserves and adjoining private lands into an expanded SMB National Park.
In support of this project GEPS has written to the NSW Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Climate Change, Hon Penny Sharp MP with the detailed proposal.
The following video was recorded by WIN NEWS Illawarra with commentary from Warren Holder and Howard H Jones
Further Information
Greater gliders are experiencing widespread decline across their distribution. They are obligate cavity dependent folivores with poor thermotolerance and high susceptibility to fragmentation and fire. These characteristics put greater gliders at high risk of further decline and extinction. Conservation of all populations are crucial to the species’ persistence. (Mulley 2022)
Background information
In 2021 GEPS submitted a nomination for the habitat at Seven Mile Beach to be recognised as Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBV). This nomination is underpinned by 16 studies and Plans specific to SMB and describes the environmental values of the SMB area, which includes 13 endangered and threatened species and 7 Endangered ecological communities. It can be used as a reference for scientifically documented environmental values of SMB that are found in the NP and on Crown and adjoining privately-owned lands.
Greater glider
Since GEPS AOBV nomination was submitted, important studies by Daly and Mulley provide a better understanding of the significance of the endangered Greater Glider at Seven Mile Beach.
Daly (2025) provides evidence that SMB is most likely the last stronghold of the greater glider on the south coast, He documents how greater gliders have suffered severe declines in abundance and distribution across all South Coast National Parkes, except for Seven Mile Beach NP, where populations remained unchanged. He states that the long-term persistence of greater gliders in the Jervis Bay area and within South Coast National parks is not assured due to a range of on-going threats.
He references the minimum habitat required for a sustainable Southern Greater Glider population as 1000ha. He also explains that while SMB NP is less than the minimum habitat area required to sustain a viable population there is adjoining freehold and council managed lands (c. 427ha) that in combination exceeds the calculated minimum size for viability .
Mulley (2022) found that the Southern Greater Glider population in Seven Mile Beach NP has a poor viability and high extinction risk, exhibiting minimal chance of persistence for the next fifty years.
GEPS concerns: Over 80 ha of Endangered vegetation including greater glider habitat has been cleared in relation to sand mining at Seven Mile Beach. We are concerned that important Greater glider habitat on private land southwest of the Gerringong STP corresponds with an identified sand resource.
We are very concerned that an application to mine into endangered vegetation/glider habitat could be lodged when the current Gerroa sand mine is exhausted.
We are also concerned that vegetation on Crown Land at Shoalhaven Heads (Reserve 1003018) is at risk of clearing and development. (In a 2001 Gazettal this was land set aside for the purpose of public recreation and environmental protection). About half the land was controversially cleared for the Shoalhaven Heads golf course and the remaining vegetation is at risk due to an urban zoning.
The Southern Greater glider has now been identified under the Save our Species program (SOS) June 2026. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/saving-our-species-program
This will give us another tool to protect GG habitats and strengthen our arguments to expend the SMB NP.
Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, New South Wales must operate a Biodiversity Conservation Program to maximise the long-term security of all threatened species and threatened ecological communities in nature.
Saving our Species sets the framework for conservation on private land and national parks, on crown land and council reserves. It outlines management actions needed to secure these species in the wild for the next 100 years.
Attached is the draft SOS Conservation strategy for GG.
Request to supporters of this project:
Given this new information about the decline in greater glider populations on the South Coast and the importance of conserving an area of GG habitat capable of sustaining a viable population at SMB, we would like you to support an investigation into the expansion of GG habitats within SMB NP. This could include incorporating crown land reserves and adjoining private lands that are covered by new conservation agreements.
See the full submission to the Hon Penny Sharp MP, Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Climate Change.
