ESTATE SWAMPED: Planned development hinges on frog habitat impacts

FEDERAL environment authorities are assessing a proposed 178-lot development at Armstrong Creek for its impact on sensitive wildlife and habitats in the area.

The federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is considering the proposal at 78-88 Groves Road ahead of an approval decision.

Developer Jinding, which owns the neighbouring Harriott estate that is under development either side of Barwon Heads Road, is seeking permission to build on the site.

Key concerns referred to the department relate to the nearby population of the growling grass frog, whose habitat would likely be impacted by proposed land clearing and construction.

Development plans for the 41-hectare property provide 7.45 hectares of frog homes, which includes 2.42 hectares of habitat creation and retains 5.03 hectares of existing land.

The property has historically been used for farming, and its effluent ponds have created what reports call low-to-moderate quality frog habitats.

The development plan proposes to create two further water specifically aimed at conserving frog populations.

A project report states that these provisions would allow the species to live unhindered in its environment.

“This plan includes the creation of dedicated habitat for growling grass frog, including a large pond and one smaller pond in a movement corridor that will be constructed to ensure ongoing connectivity to adjacent frog breeding habitat and dispersal corridors.

As part of this design, areas containing some characteristics of the species habitat (i.e. exposed rock, ephemeral ponds) will be retained and enhanced where possible.

“Enhanced existing and constructed new habitat will result in the provision of an unbroken series of waterbodies situated along a large dispersal corridor to allow unimpeded frog breeding and dispersal.”

A portion of coastal saltmarsh vegetations is also present within the development plan but project plans indicate this area would remain undeveloped, with the government finding separation between it and properties and infrastructure would result in “minor direct impacts”.

Public consultation closed in December on the project reports, with the project now waiting on a government decision on whether construction can go ahead.

The proposal is immediately south of the project area for the Sparrovale-Nubitj yoorree Wetlands Reserve.

The City of Greater Geelong has developed a masterplan for the 500 hectares of land to provide for capture and treatment of stormwater runoff from the Armstrong Creek development area.

Full project plans submitted for assessment are available at the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act portal at epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au

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