Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve: planning considerations

Barunguba Montague Island has significant Aboriginal cultural values. The island was officially dual named Barunguba Montague Island in 2021, and the park named changed to Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve on 7 July 2023 to recognise the significance of the island to Aboriginal people and their continuing connection to Country.

The island also has significant historical and natural heritage values. It provides habitat for a wide range of seabirds, including Gould’s petrel and an important colony of little penguins, and is the site of one of the largest aggregations of fur seals on the NSW coast.

To protect the island’s natural, Aboriginal cultural and historic heritage values, public visitation to Barunguba Montague Island is closely regulated by NPWS. All visitors must be part of an authorised tour and visitor numbers are limited.

The island’s values, and the management considerations and opportunities associated with those values, are described in the planning considerations. These planning considerations support the Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve plan of management.