Western Grassland Reserve update
The Western Grassland Reserve will permanently protect critically endangered Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain – a declining ecosystem that’s almost disappeared. The 15,000-hectare reserve is home to species that are unique to our state and protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.
Struggling species not listed under the EPBC Act such as the fat-tailed dunnart which has declined 60 per cent in recent decades are likely to benefit from these protected grasslands too.
So far, we’ve acquired more than 20% of the Western Grassland Reserve. We can only purchase land at the pace of development, through a levy we collect under law. We are partnering with Traditional Owners to heal knowledge and Country in the Western Grassland Reserve. Working together with Traditional Owners and learning from their knowledge and deep connection to Country, we aim to restore the reserve.
Our partner Parks Victoria is carrying out a range of activities including revegetation and weed control. Wyndham City Council has supported vegetation surveys and weed control on more than 6,000 hectares of private land. Find out more about invasive plant species in Wyndham's new weeds brochure.
Fire management is about more than just reducing risk. We also work with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) to apply fire to the landcape in a slow and controlled manner to maintain and improve ecological resilience and assist with the regeneration of native grasslands. For more information see FFMVic's Joint Fuel Management Program web page. You can also sign up for notifications about planned burns.
The reserve will be more than four times bigger than the Dandenong Ranges National Park, forming critical habitat corridors. It will provide a refuge for nature beside our newest communities and a place where cultural landscapes are actively planned and managed and connection to Country is strengthened.
The Western Grassland Reserve is being delivered as part of the MSA Program. The MSA Program was established under Commonwealth law (EPBC Act) to help manage the impact of urban development on the environment. The program works to protect specific state and federally listed plants and animals such as the growling grass frog, southern brown bandicoot, golden sun moth and striped legless lizard.
