July 18, 2023

Project Status Updates

Project Status Updates – July 2023

Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon

The critically endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) was recently found at a location west of Melbourne. It is the first time the lizard species has been sighted in more than 50 years, and it was previously considered likely to be extinct.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been advised that the Merrimu precinct has been identified as likely having habitat that would support the VGED. This means that we will not be able to progress the preparation of a place-based plan for the precinct until the surveys have been undertaken, and any conservation response has been determined. 

The VPA is working closely with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to understand how the surveys to identify potential populations of VGED will be carried out for Merrimu Precinct Structure Plan (PSP). 

These surveys will need to be undertaken to collect more information on the species and its habitat to inform precinct structure plans, projects and potential conservation measures. The surveys will need to be undertaken over warmer months, starting in the summer of 2023/24. This work will impact the timing of the Merrimu PSP.

We will contact landowners about these surveys, which will be prioritised in precincts currently on our work program to ensure program impacts are minimised.

Ahead of the completion of the surveys and confirmation of the conservation response, the VPA will continue to resolve technical reports that are underway and not dependent upon the survey results, to allow us to move quickly towards preparation of a place-based plan once the survey results are known. As these reports are completed, we will publish these on our website, and will advise stakeholder via our regular project updates.

Given the potential presence of the VGED within the Merrimu precinct, multi-agency surveillance and monitoring is being undertaken to ensure that no illegal clearing of vegetation and habitat is taking place.

The VPA is currently pursuing a contact at DEECA for our stakeholders and will advise when that becomes available.

General information about the VGED can be found at the Zoos Victoria website.

Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road Alignment

A key consideration for the Merrimu PSP is the alignment of the future Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road Alignment (BMELR).

Further updates on the BMELR alignment can be found on the Regional Roads Victoria website.

We have been progressing the planning for Merrimu Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) by finalising background and technical studies for the precinct.

Further Project Updates

Since our last update in April 2023 we have:

Continued to progress the following technical studies: Integrated Water Management, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and retail and economics
Continued engagement with Melbourne Water to resolve drainage issues in the precinct and location of drainage assets
Continued engagement with Department of Transport and Planning to understand what needs to be included in the Precinct Structure Plan with respect to the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road (BMELR).

We understand many stakeholders have concerns about the revised timeframes. As is normal practice, we will continue to update you on the status of the project in September or as directed by the Minister for Planning.

Project Status Updates