City sprawl could eat up endangered grasslands and prized green wedges
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Media release
The proposed large-scale expansion of the urban growth boundary announced today by the Brumby Government could gobble up some of Melbourne's green wedges and destroy significant areas of endangered native grasslands, conservation and local environment groups say. Matt Ruchel, executive director of the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA), welcomed the proposal for new grassland reserves but said expansion of the urban growth boundary could destroy thousands of hectares of endangered grasslands. "The government's proposal to establish 15,000 hectares of new grassland reserves outside the growth areas is great news but does not excuse the potential loss of more than 6000 hectares of grasslands that could be destroyed by new urban developments," he said. "Within the proposed expanded urban growth area there are some of the best examples of high quality grasslands and these areas need to be retained as part of the urban parks network within growth areas, not automatically cleared to make way for more housing. |
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"It is also absolutely critical that any new reserves are locked in as quickly as possible before property developers or the State Government start clearing for new housing or infrastructure. This means upfront funding for the new reserves needs to happen now."
Joint co-ordinator of the Green Wedges Coalition Rosemary West said the proposed expansion of Melbourne's urban growth boundary was unsustainable and would be environmentally and agriculturally damaging.
"Successive governments have acknowledged that Melbourne's green wedges are the lungs of the city," she said.
"These non-urban areas safeguard agricultural uses, preserve natural areas including endangered grasslands, and play an important part in Melbourne's open space network.
"Research shows that there is enough land within the current urban growth boundary to last until 2030 by increasing development density within urban growth areas.
"The Brumby Government's announcement today shows a willingness to sacrifice our green wedge values for unnecessary development."
In a first for Victoria and at an unprecedented scale, the State Government's proposed expansion of the urban growth boundary will be subject to a strategic assessment and approval by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).
There will be a community consultation period of at least 28 days.
Grasslands of the volcanic plains are one of Victoria's most endangered ecosystems and home to 68 threatened native animals and 26 threatened native plants.
There is an estimated 20,000 hectares of remnant grassland of varying quality to the west of Melbourne and significant sites along the Merri Creek corridor to the north, and important habitat for nationally significant species such as the Growling Grass Frog and the Southern Brown Bandicoot in the south east.
For further comments contact Matt Ruchel on 0418 357 813 or Rosemary West on 0418 554 799.
For more information on the State Government's proposal download the report Delivering Melbourne's Newest Sustainable Communities - Strategic Impact Assessment Report (960kb pdf).
Learn more about the threats facing Victoria's native grasslands
Help protect Melbourne's endangered native grasslands