By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A CRITICALLY endangered moth that has already stalled several housing developments could stand in the way of Lara’s westward expansion.
Developer Dacland has referred its proposed Manzeene Village subdivision to determine whether it needs an environmental effects statement.
The 60-hectare area contains endangered natural temperate grasslands, preferred habitat of the golden sun moth.
The moth grows underground for two or three years, emerges for a few days to mate and lay eggs then dies.
Federal Government’s Department of Environment said the rare moth was difficult to survey because of its brief emergence, with the extent of its habitat largely unknown.
A colony was located near Dandos Rd, Avalon, in 2009.
Small colonies had triggered environmental reports at Craigieburn, Truganina South, Mambourin, Mount Cottrell and Greenvale West.
The department said the moth had lost more than 99 per cent of its native habitat, with Lara and Little River the site for some of the only remaining grasslands.
Manzeene Village is a 400-to-500-lot residential development bound by Kees, Patullos and O’Hallorans Rds.
An environmental report on the site said it contained “25 fragmented patches of disturbed and degraded grassland indigenous vegetation”.
The grassland patches had “high conservation significance”, covering 17.7 hectares, the report said.
Targeted golden sun moth surveys in December and January failed to find the insect.
“It is considered highly unlikely that the golden sun moth occurs on the site based upon the (survey) results and the moderate quality and fragmented extent of native grasslands present on the site”, the report said.
“The lack of connectivity to other native grassland communities and the previous disturbance of this site result in the habitat being considered to be of moderate quality for this species.”
Dacland said it would negotiate with council to contribute to its planned grassland reserve to the north of Corio.
The Independent reported in February last year that development threatened remaining fragments of native grasslands in the region.
An Australian Academy of Science report said volcanic plains grasslands around Lara and Little River were one of Victoria’s most endangered ecosystems.
