By Callum Ludwig
The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) has reignited the plight to protect the Mt Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly following the decision regarding the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination (WMBD) in November 2022.
The VNPA has made the first formal nomination for a Critical Habitat Determination (CHD) to protect the habitat of the critically endangered insect, whose habitat extends only 2 to 4km from the summit of Mt Donna Buang, under provisions to environmental laws passed in 2019.
VNPA spokesperson Matt Ruchel said it’s extraordinary this part of our state environmental laws has never been used to protect critically endangered species given we’re in the grips of an extinction crisis.
“We’re lodging the first-ever application for a critical habitat determination to give this rare alpine insect protection from proposed mountain bike tracks and future development applications and the need for enhanced management of this special creature,” he said.
“But we are hopeful the department and scientific advisory committee will exercise their power to save the precious stonefly. The capacity to undertake a critical habitat determination has been in place since 2019, and we are sick of waiting for government guidelines.”
Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action Secretary (DEECA) John Bradley and the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) were expected to review the submission on Monday 20 March.
Mr Ruchel said they simply can’t wait any longer to ensure every measure is taken to protect this incredible stonefly which exists nowhere else in the world.
“If we can secure a critical habitat determination for stoneflies, that would set a strong precedent for other creatures on the long list of almost 2000 threatened species,” he said.
“The Victorian Government modernised our state threatened species laws in 2019 including strengthening the capacity for critical habitat determinations. Three years on we need to start using these tools, not leave them again sitting on the shelf, while our threatened species lists grow.”
The Mt Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly has a relatively long life span of three years, surviving the streams drying out over summer by burrowing into the substrate on the mountainside where the moisture is retained. It is also one of only two wingless stonefly species in Australia.
DEECA was contacted for comment.
The Mt Donna Buang trail of the WMBD (Drop A K) was removed from Yarra Ranges Council’s initial proposal for the WMBD due to not receiving the Minister for Planning Lizzie Blandthorn’s approval.
Director of Built Environment and Infrastructure at Yarra Ranges Council Hjalmar Philipp said
Council has always been committed to ensuring the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination is planned, delivered and operated to the highest standards to ensure the special environment and values of the Yarra Valley are appropriately protected.
“The project has undertaken an Environment Effects Statement (EES), the most comprehensive environmental assessment available in Victoria, that ensures ecological, cultural, heritage and social effects are avoided or minimised to an acceptable level,” he said.
“The Victorian Minister for Planning provided their assessment of the EES in October last year. The Minister’s Assessment recommended project modifications to protect the Mount Donna Buang Wingless Stonefly, including the removal of trails in the vicinity of stonefly habitat, which have been actioned by Council.”
