The Brumby Labor Government will protect one of Victoria’s most endangered ecosystems by acquiring 15,000 hectares of native grasslands to offset the impact of urban growth in Melbourne’s west.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings today released plans for the reserves as part of the Brumby Labor Government’s Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities program.
“As Melbourne’s population grows, the Brumby Labor Government is taking action through these proposed grassland reserves to ensure the health of our environment as well as our communities,” Mr Jennings said.
“In cooperation with the Commonwealth Government we will evaluate the ecological value of the grasslands. The Brumby Labor Government will also run a consultation process to hear community views on access and possible uses of the grassland reserves around Mt Cottrell, south-east of Melton, and west of Werribee around Little River.”
The proposed 15,000 hectares of grassland reserves are one of Victoria’s most endangered ecosystems and cover the world’s largest remaining concentration of Volcanic Plains Grasslands.
“Less than 5 per cent of Victoria's original grasslands still remain. And only 2 per cent of this depleted area is currently protected in Victorian conservation reserves. We can’t afford to miss this chance to protect this endangered ecosystem,” he said.
Native grasslands provide habitat for a number of endangered species including the Golden Sun Moth, Striped Legless lizard, Grassland Earless-dragon, Spiny Rice-flower, Button Wrinklewort, Plains Wanderer and Growling Grass Frog.
The grasslands would also offset the 6918 hectares of land marked for urban development under the proposed changes to the Urban Growth Boundary.
Some land owners and occupiers will be affected by the grasslands reservation. Affected properties will be included within a Public Acquisition Overlay under the Planning Scheme. This will give the Brumby Labor Government first right of purchase if a property comes up for sale and will allow the Government the right to compulsorily acquire a property at the market value price.
Owners and occupiers of affected land are being notified by letter and are encouraged to make a submission on the proposed changes.
The grassland reserves are expected to be set up over the next 10 years depending on conditions set by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
”Establishing this large area of grassland reserves will give developers of these new urban areas greater certainty by offsetting the environmental impact on the grasslands in one go, instead of dealing with them block by block,” Mr Jennings said.
“The Brumby Labor Government wants to ensure our grasslands are protected in the future, as Melbourne at 5 Million and the Victorian Transport Plan are implemented, for the benefit of all Victorian families.
“Local children and residents will be able to play an active role in the future restoration of these grassland reserves and it’s exciting to think that they will be able to help protect plants and animals that may not exist anywhere else in the world.”
The reserves effectively extend the You Yangs Regional Park which is highly valued by so many Victorians, increasing the open space and recreation opportunities available to Melbourne’s communities as they grow.
“In cooperation with the Commonwealth Government we will evaluate the ecological value of the grasslands. The Brumby Labor Government will also run a consultation process to hear community views on access and possible uses of the grassland reserves around Mt Cottrell, south-east of Melton, and west of Werribee around Little River.”
The proposed 15,000 hectares of grassland reserves are one of Victoria’s most endangered ecosystems and cover the world’s largest remaining concentration of Volcanic Plains Grasslands.
“Less than 5 per cent of Victoria's original grasslands still remain. And only 2 per cent of this depleted area is currently protected in Victorian conservation reserves. We can’t afford to miss this chance to protect this endangered ecosystem,” he said.
Native grasslands provide habitat for a number of endangered species including the Golden Sun Moth, Striped Legless lizard, Grassland Earless-dragon, Spiny Rice-flower, Button Wrinklewort, Plains Wanderer and Growling Grass Frog.
The grasslands would also offset the 6918 hectares of land marked for urban development under the proposed changes to the Urban Growth Boundary.
Some land owners and occupiers will be affected by the grasslands reservation. Affected properties will be included within a Public Acquisition Overlay under the Planning Scheme. This will give the Brumby Labor Government first right of purchase if a property comes up for sale and will allow the Government the right to compulsorily acquire a property at the market value price.
Owners and occupiers of affected land are being notified by letter and are encouraged to make a submission on the proposed changes.
The grassland reserves are expected to be set up over the next 10 years depending on conditions set by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
”Establishing this large area of grassland reserves will give developers of these new urban areas greater certainty by offsetting the environmental impact on the grasslands in one go, instead of dealing with them block by block,” Mr Jennings said.
“The Brumby Labor Government wants to ensure our grasslands are protected in the future, as Melbourne at 5 Million and the Victorian Transport Plan are implemented, for the benefit of all Victorian families.
“Local children and residents will be able to play an active role in the future restoration of these grassland reserves and it’s exciting to think that they will be able to help protect plants and animals that may not exist anywhere else in the world.”
The reserves effectively extend the You Yangs Regional Park which is highly valued by so many Victorians, increasing the open space and recreation opportunities available to Melbourne’s communities as they grow.
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