The Federal Court of Australia has issued orders halting land clearing on the last unburnt patch of land at Manyana on the state's south coast today.
The reprieve will allow an ecologist to search for threatened greater gliders, believed to be taking refuge on the parcel of land.
The ecologist will spend three days and three nights surveying the site before the matter returns to the Federal Court next week.
Environmental defenders Office CEO David Morris said the site may be critical for its survival.
"The importance of the block at Manyana is not yet known," Mr Morris said.
"A precautionary approach is needed.
Protestors have been on the site for several weeks, trying to slow the progress of land clearing.
Spokesperson for the local community group Manyana Matters, Jorj Lowrey, said the injunction is a step in the right direction.
"It gives us an opportunity to keep fighting," Ms Lowrey said.
Residents are still hopeful a buyback will be negotiated between Shoalhaven Council and the NSW Government.
The idea of crowdfunding a buyback has also been floated.
Greens MP David Shoebridge has been acting as an advocate for the community and said this option was still on the table.
"The community is willing to put their hand in their pocket," Mr Shoebridge said.
"If we have a three-way solution to this I would hope we can get a serious financial package together and actually save this forest."
Mr Morris said the matter had also highlighted deficiencies in existing development laws.
"The fact is, Australia's environmental laws are not well equipped to protect nature in the wake of this summer's fires," Mr Morris said.
"Fortunately they are under review.
"The proper approach needs to be to hold off on all developments approved prior to the fires until fresh environmental assessments are made."
The developer, Ozy Homes, has agreed not to undertake any further work on the site, however has not responded to the ABC's request for comment.
