July 21, 2023
Project Status Updates
Project Status Update – July 2023
Since our last update in May, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has made substantial progress on the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct.
In June we published the Vision and Purpose Workshop Summary Report. It provides an emerging vision statement, along with objectives, outcomes and actions for four emerging themes. The report is available in the Supporting Documentation section of this webpage.
Upcoming engagement session
We are preparing for the co-design workshop in August, which will be held in Geelong. The workshop will be an opportunity for all stakeholders to collaboratively prepare a conceptual place-based plan for the precinct.
Technical work
Technical experts are engaged to continue their preparation of phase 1 technical studies on matters including:
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
- Historical Cultural Heritage
- Biodiversity
- Land Capability
- Economics
- Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
- Arboriculture
- Bushfire
In the coming months we will focus on the co-design workshop and continue to progress technical work.
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 VPA has been advised that the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct has been identified as likely having habitat that would support the VGED.
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 the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct.
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.
Targeted surveys for the VGED are already part of the Biodiversity Assessment tasks for the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct, with several species including the VGED being surveyed this summer. The VGED survey will not impact the program for the PSP, subject to appropriate survey techniques being available by this summer.
The timing of the release of the potential conservation responses may impact the program. We will keep stakeholders advised around this.
Given that VGED is Australia’s most endangered animal, DEECA will conduct constant monitoring in all areas where there are potential populations to ensure that no illegal land clearing 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 here.