How the earless dragon of Victorian grasslands, thought extinct, could prevent 300,000 new homes from being built and drive up house prices
In Victoria, a battle is raging between the needs of nature and the needs of people. A tiny rediscovered animal, long thought extinct, is delaying the construction of more than 300,000 homes.
The rediscovery of the earless dragon species from the Victorian grasslands in June 2023 has meant that houses planned for construction between Sunbury and Geelong could become much more expensive, or may not be built at all.
Developers say costs, including property taxes, are piling up and will likely lead to higher prices due to delays by both the state and federal governments.
Mark Whinfield of Newland Developers, who oversees an affected site in North Geelong, said the builder has already spent $1 million and that amount should be passed on to homebuyers.
“This has delayed the project by two years. We do not expect construction to begin before 2028,” he told the Herald Sun“It’s a long journey.”
Garry Peterson, general manager of endangered species at Zoos Victoria, sees it differently, saying that landowners had already been affected by the conservation plans before the monitor lizard was discovered.
“They certainly intended to retain some of that for certain environmental assets that were on the site before the lizard was rediscovered,” he told the ABC.
“We are working with them to determine how we can best preserve the entire site for the lizard, but also ensure that they receive appropriate compensation for this.”
In Victoria, the battle between the needs of nature and the needs of humans is heating up. A rediscovered lizard (pictured) long thought extinct has delayed the construction of more than 300,000 homes.
The rediscovery of the Victorian grassland earless dragon has meant that homes due to be built between Sunbury and Geelong could be much more expensive or may not be built at all (stock image)
In a letter to the Property Council of Australia, a spokesperson for Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said “a decision on the matter is in the making”.
The earless monitor lizards in the grasslands of Victoria are a matter of national significance. Therefore, “any action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the species must be submitted to the Australian Government and subject to an environmental assessment and approval process,” the spokesperson said.
Cath Evans, the head of Property Council Australia in Victoria, was not happy, saying the response came four months too late and offered developers “no certainty”.
“Victoria is facing a housing supply crisis and cannot afford to have tens of thousands of potential new homes stuck in greenwash,” she said.
Ms Evans called on both state and federal governments to assist landowners with “swift decision-making”.
“While the industry supports the protection of vulnerable species such as the Victorian earless grassland dragon, a better balance is needed,” she said.
The rediscovery of the lizard, which was last seen in 1969, has increased pressure on the Victorian state government under Premier Jacinta Allen, who has promised Build 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next decade.
But the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a decline in both construction project approvals and completions.
Zoos Victoria is training a team of sniffer dogs to track down the dragons, and two dogs, Daisy and Kip, have already found several.
Zoos Victoria is training a team of sniffer dogs to track down the earless dragons of the Victorian grasslands (pictured)
Because the animals are still being found, Mr Peterson and Zoos Victoria want the site to remain untouched.
“Ideally, continuing the grazing regime is very important to maintain the grassland structure in that location. That’s what allows the species to survive,” he said.
But the hundreds of thousands of people hoping to own a home may see it differently.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Ms Plibersek and Ms Allen for comment.
