One of the group’s Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon protests at Canberra Airport. Photo: Conservation Council ACT Region.
The Canberra Airport Group has again drawn the ire of environmentalists, this time for its plans to “move” a patch of grassland thought to be one of the last remaining habitats for one of Australia’s most endangered reptiles.
Largely since it received the stamp of approval from the Federal Government, the airport’s plan to construct a new northern “link” road between Fairbairn Avenue and Majura Road has faced hefty opposition from environmental groups Friends of Grasslands (FOG) and Conservation Council ACT Region.
They argue the road cuts through one of the last known habitats of the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata), thought to exist in just 40 ha across three small sites in the ACT and listed as critically endangered under both federal and territory law (ACT Government ecologists have described it as the “most endangered reptile species in Australia”).
The airport has agreed to suspend construction on the upper section of the road while it works with the Federal Government on ways to minimise any impact to the dragon – including by elevating the road and running pipes to allow the lizards to pass underneath.
But its latest proposal to dig up and transplant an 800 m patch of grassland has reignited the protests.
“Digging up and ‘moving’ a grassland does not pass the pub test,” Conservation Council ACT Region vice president Danny Jowers said.
“This is an embarrassing and shameful greenwashing attempt by Capital Airport Group. They are knowingly destroying the final remaining habitat of the critically endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon.”
The Canberra Airport says the new road will improve freight connections and provide an emergency evacuation route. Photo: Canberra Airport, Facebook.
Insurance populations of the dragon are currently being bred at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for eventual release back into the wild, but Mr Jowers argued this was “a complete waste” if the “destruction of this remaining habitat” continues.
“Why suggest moving a grassland that is vital habitat when an unbuilt road is the obvious thing to move?”
Together with FOG vice-president Matt Whitting, Mr Jowers called on the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to “revoke approval for this road under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act”.
“If the Federal Environment Minister has decided he will not step in and prevent it, it should be made clear that there is no evidence that moving the grassland will work,” Mr Whitting added.
The Canberra Airport received approval for the project from the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) back in 2009, when it argued the new road was not only necessary as an evacuation route for VIP passengers like the Prime Minister and foreign officials, but also that it would enable faster, more direct access to its freight buildings.
Protesters, however, argue the airport should remain content with the dirt road that currently follows the same route as the proposed new one.
A DCCEEW spokesperson told Region the airport still carried a “valid approval under national environment law” for the project.
“Canberra Airport has proposed to salvage plants and seeds from construction areas, which would otherwise be lost and use them to rehabilitate natural temperate grassland habitat on airport land,” the spokesperson said.
The airport has agreed to suspend part of the construction while it talks with the Federal environment department. Photo: Conservation Council ACT Region.
It’s understood recent pre-construction surveys on the lower end of the road have not identified any presence of the lizard and the department is still deciding on the best way forward.
The Canberra Airport again reiterated its commitment to “balance critical infrastructure needs with environment conservation”.
“The Northern Road project has been rigorously assessed and approved by the relevant authorities, ensuring no net loss of habitat, no fragmentation and no increased risk to the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon population,” head of aviation Michael Thomson said.
“We will continue to work closely with the department and recognised experts to focus on delivering a nature-positive outcome while ensuring safe and secure access to the Fairbairn Precinct.”
