by Alesha Capone
Proposed upgrades for Bulban Road in Mambourin could impact upon on the habitat of threatened native species, an expert report has found.
Plans of the proposed upgrade – along with a report commissioned by Wyndham council into the project’s potential impacts, including upon the environment – are available for the public to view on the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website.
Wyndham council is proposing to develop two sections of Bulban Road, covering a combined total distance of approximately 8.6 kilometres of road reserve.
The first section consists of a 6.9 kilometre section beginning at the Edgars Road intersection and ending approximately 500 metres short of the Deer Park-West Werribee rail line.
The second section covers a 1.7 kilometre section of Bulban Road between the Regional Rail Line and stops approximately 100 metres short of Lollypop Creek.
The council is proposing that its upgrade in the two areas, including to the road’s seal, will increase Bulban Road’s width to seven metres.
The widening of the road and associated infrastructure will require clearing an estimated 1.26 hectares of native vegetation, the report stated.
The study commissioned by the council, which was completed by Ecology and Heritage Partners, found that 4.96 metres of Golden Sun Moth habitat could be impacted by the road widening.
The Golden Sun Moth is listed as critically endangered.
The report also found that habitat of the threatened Striped Legless Lizard was likely to be impacted by the roadworks, although only one of the reptiles was found during surveys of the site.
The report stated was “unlikely that the area supports an extensive population of the species”.
As well, the study area is a CFA-declared fire break and bisects large areas of open grassland situated to the north and south, where slashing activities are regularly undertaken.
The council documents stated that where the Bulban Road design limitations allow, “stringent conditions will be put in place to minimise the impact on areas of native vegetation and suitable habitat for significant species within the road reserve”.
The proposed road widening and associated infrastructure will be realigned, to avoid the area where the single Striped Legless Lizard was recorded.
