From the elusive Golden Sun Moth to the shy Southern Brown Bandicoot, some of our most threatened animals and plants live in our neighbourhoods. Many of these were once widespread throughout Victoria, but are now facing extinction due to habitat loss, predators and disease. That’s why we’re taking action to make sure they not only remain in these areas – but thrive into the future.
We protect these unique plants and animals by securing some of the best remaining habitat around Melbourne's outskirts. We also work with our partners to help these conservation areas become much-loved parts of our new suburbs.
We are creating 2 large reserves just outside of Melbourne. These will be a haven for threatened species and protect some of the last remaining sections of endangered ecosystems in Victoria. One of the key benefits of this approach is that smaller areas of important habitat will be consolidated into a single, large conservation reserve. The reserves will also enable Victorians to connect with nature at a local level.
We also run much-needed conservation management programs for species including the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Growling Grass Frog and Button Wrinklewort.
Map of species and ecosystems across Melbourne
Why was the Melbourne Strategic Assessment program created?
Melbourne’s population is on the rise – it’s tipped to reach more than 6 million by 2030. To accommodate for this rapid increase, 4 growth areas covering 60,000 hectares were set aside for urban development.
Many nationally threatened animals, plants and ecosystems are found in these 4 areas and will be impacted by development. The Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) program ensures that development in these areas follows Victorian and Australian environmental laws, and protects our biodiversity.
The program streamlines the biodiversity assessment and approvals process for developers. This process includes a levy that developers must pay to offset any impacts on biodiversity. This levy goes towards funding our conservation reserves and programs. The MSA program is a long-term, strategic approach that will achieve strong outcomes for biodiversity.
Our aim
Protect nationally threatened plants, animals and ecosystems in and around Melbourne’s growth areas.
![]() | Growling Grass Frog
Threats: habitat loss, predators and disease |
![]() | Striped Legless Lizard
Threats: habitat loss |
![]() | Golden Sun Moth
Threats: habitat loss |
![]() | Spiny Rice-flower
Threats: invasive weeds and habitat loss |
![]() | Button Wrinklewort
Threats: invasive weeds and habitat loss |
![]() | Natural Temperate Grassland
Threats: agriculture, clearing and invasive weeds |
![]() | Grassy Eucalypt Woodland
Threats: grazing, clearing, invasive weeds |
![]() | Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands
Threats: grazing, clearing, invasive weeds |
How does the program work?
Creating conservation reserves and management programs
We deliver a range of conservation actions to protect threatened species and ecosystems, and secure their future. We permanently protect habitat that is too important to be cleared within and around our new suburbs. Our key actions are:
- 15,000-hectare Western Grassland Reserve
- 1,200 hectare Grassy Eucalypt Woodland protected area
- more than 4,000 hectares of conservation area in Melbourne’s newest suburbs
- 145km of Growling Grass Frog habitat and more than 80 wetlands created
- protecting and looking after the Southern Brown Bandicoot
- protecting and managing habitat for the Golden Sun Moth, Matted Flax-lily and Spiny Rice-flower
Find out more about what we've done so far.
Key documents
Melbourne Strategic Assessment agreement
Under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), 4 development actions that relate to the MSA program were approved:
- Development and operation of the Regional Rail Link project between West of Werribee and Deer Park (section 2) (June 2010) (PDF, 898.7 KB)
- Urban development in 28 existing precincts within the 2005 Urban Growth Boundary (July 2010) (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Urban development in the western, north-western and northern growth corridors (September 2013) (PDF, 973.3 KB)
- Urban development in the south-eastern growth corridor (September 2014) (PDF, 1.5 MB)
This means that developers don't need any further approvals for the EPBC Act in these areas, as long as they follow the Program Report and the conditions of the approvals. These make sure that development proceeds in a way that protects threatened species.
Approval is still required from the Commonwealth Government for development of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Transport Corridor/E6 Road Reservation.
Program report
This report outlines how we ensure that development in our growth areas goes ahead in a way that protects nationally threatened species ecosystems.
Program report (Accessible version)
Strategic Impact Assessment report
This report looks at the impacts of the Victorian Government's urban development program on nationally threatened species and ecosystems. It also identifies conservation actions needed to mitigate the impacts of development.
Strategic Impact Assessment report (Accessible version)
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (PDF, 19.8 MB) outlines how we protect biodiversity in Melbourne's growth areas by setting up a network of conservation areas around Melbourne.
FAQs
Page last updated: 29/09/21