Hi Birders,
I am urging you to make a submission (closing date this Friday 17 July 09) and
to contact politicians expressing your concern about the proposed expansions to
the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in the Grasslands to the North and a West of
Melbourne. Areas between Cranbourne and Pakenham are also impacted by this
proposal. This proposal could see Melbourne's sprawl extended by a further
46,000 ha.
Basalt Plains Grasslands once covered a significant portion of Victoria from
Merri Creek west to Portland and the SA border. It is estimated that less than
1% of the original grasslands remain, and these remnants are often severely
degraded. The extended UG area also contains important remnants of Red Gum
Grassy Woodland - recently EPBC listed as a threatened community. Significant
populations of flora and fauna depend on these grasslands and woodlands. The
ancient Red Gums estimated to be 200-400 years old provide nesting hollows for
many species.
The Merri Creek valley contains significant remnants of these communities. This
proposal involves opening up most of the surviving non-urbanised areas to
development. The development will extend almost to Wallan that is also
undergoing a southward development push. At least 35% of the area will be
handed over for housing and industrial development plus an enormous new
freeway. Many other areas shown as 'constrained' for development are the site
of current and proposed quarrying operations (then later landfill) and buffer
zones for these. Apart from stream buffers of unspecified width there is little
suggestion of even high quality remnant grasslands or grassy woodlands being
reserved or protected.
Similarly significant remnant grasslands to the west of Melbourne are also to
be lost development.
This sprawling development threatens many species. Many birds will be impacted
through extensive loss of habitat and the fragmentation of movement paths of
migratory and nomadic birds like robins and honeyeaters.
Further information can be obtained from websites such as:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fomc/pages/posts/aids-for-a-submission-on-the-urban-growth-boundary24.php
http://www.vnpa.org.au/subsection.php?subsection_id=145
http://www.mcmc.org.au/content/view/312/120/
http://www.gwc.org.au/node/73
Wendy Moore
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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