Tiny Lizard, big problems: Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon delays home construction

The endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon is causing chaos in Melbourne’s western growth corridor and Geelong and a fight to protect its habitat is halting the construction of tens of thousands of homes.

The Albanese government has been accused of “putting lizards before people” as tens of thousands of home builds are delayed by years and hundreds of others hang in the balance due to a tiny dragon.

As first revealed by the Herald Sun, first home buyers looking for more affordable homes in Melbourne’s western growth corridor and Geelong are being warned they will likely face inflated prices due to huge holding costs associated with a protracted federal and state government search and rescue mission to protect a critically endangered lizard.

Head of one of Victoria’s peak property bodies, UDIA Victorian chief executive Linda Allison, said while the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon must be protected, affected developments were “no closer to being under way” than they were in 2023 following the dragon’s rediscovery.

The tiny lizard has caused big problems for first home buyers. Picture: Supplied

“Despite recent surveys turning up no new sightings of the species, developers are left without a clear or certain path for the development of impacted sites,” she said.

“As a result, there is still a question mark over the delivery of tens-of-thousands of new homes, and no clarity from state or federal government about how they intend to manage these impacts, despite a deepening housing crisis.”

Developers of a $11bn housing project with initial plans for 15,000 new homes in Northern Geelong told the Herald Sun 400 proposed homes would need to be scrapped to protect the potential future habitat for the dragon, despite conservationists not finding a single one on or near their land.

Adam Agosta, Managing Director of Bamfa Properties, which is developing the Lovely Banks estate, said the process was “way too skewed to the environmental side” which would lead to more expensive housing.

“About 400 potential homes will be scrapped on the land, which used to be an old motorcycle track, because it could be a habitat for the lizard at some point,” he said.

“They’re putting lizards before people.”

The Albanese government has been accused of ‘putting lizards before people’. Picture: Rory Keenan, Zoos Victoria

Lawyer John Cicero, who has been engaged by the developer, said governments and council had failed to “strike the appropriate balance” between the protection of biodiversity and affordable housing.

“There is already a proposal to set aside 100 hectares of land for the protection of biodiversity and now it is proposed to add an additional 30 hectares because of a discovery of one Earless Dragon 80km distant even though after searches costing the developers $1M, none were found in the area,” he said.

It comes as Anthony Albanese attempts to convince first home buyers to choose Labor at the ballot box, pledging to build 100,000 homes exclusively for those trying to get into the market.

While the dragon is protected under federal environmental laws, a spokesman said the Lovely Banks development was a matter for the Victorian Government and local councils.

Geelong City Council, however, said “protections have been applied to assist in gaining federal approval” for the project.

“Although the earless dragon wasn’t found in last year’s survey of the Northern Geelong Growth Area, areas identified as potential habitat must still be considered,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as Tiny Lizard, big problems: Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon delays home construction