Today, the Conservation Council ACT Region (the Council) and local environmental groups condemn the Federal Labor Government’s decision, last Wednesday, to allow Capital Airport Group (CAG) to destroy vital habitat of Canberra’s very own lizard, the critically endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon (the Canberra Dragon), to build its unnecessary “northern airport road” (the road). The Department communicated the decision late on Friday, 4.07 pm.
CAG’s road will tear through the habitat occupied by one of just three remaining genetically distinct populations of the Canberra Dragon. When less than 800 ha of habitat is occupied by this critically endangered species, this is a significant loss. Furthermore, CAG’s road risks driving the resident population into extinction by (1) increasing road kill, (2) increasing predation and (3) dividing the population into two fragments each too small to survive.
As a Vice President of Friends of Grasslands, Matt Whitting, explains: “With so few of our Earless Dragons left in the wild the loss of even one individual threatens the whole species. This case is a travesty. Because this northern road is entirely unnecessary, the loss of our Earless Dragons is avoidable. In this case, Australia’s national environmental law gave the Federal Environment Minister the power to protect our environment from destruction. But instead of using those powers, successive ministers on both sides of politics chose to not to take action to save Canberra’s Grassland Earless Dragon from extinction.”
Executive Director of the Conservation Council ACT Region, Dr Simon Copland, explains: “CAG’s application and the Federal Labor Government’s approval to destroy our Earless Dragon’s habitat has occurred despite 27 years of hard-fought community and expert opposition to the project. The arguments in favour of this road are rubbish. There is already a second evacuation route out of Fairbarn. When will this pointless destruction of our habitat stop? No expensive breeding program can replace the need to retain quality habitat for our Earless Dragon. This is a sorry day for Canberrans and our critically endangered biodiversity.”
Background – the Canberra Dragon
The Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata) was only identified as a separate species in 2019, when taxonomists split the former (threatened) Grassland Earless Dragon into four species. The Canberra Dragon species is now only found in three small genetically distinct populations in the eastern Australian Capital Territory and near Queanbeyan in NSW. The species is listed as critically endangered under ACT and federal legislation. ACT Government ecologists have described the Canberra Dragon as being the “most endangered reptile species in Australia”.
Dragons are the ‘goldilocks’ indicator species for healthy grasslands as they need enough space between tussocks to hunt insects but also enough grass to hide from predators. This ‘just right’ grass cover is the ideal habitat for a number of endangered animal and wildflower species on natural grasslands.
Photo: Bernd Gruber
Background – the Northern Road
In 2009, the Canberra Airport Group (CAG) requested approval for the construction of its “northern road” which at the time proposed use be made of Defence land to go around the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon’s habitat, as was advised at the time by the Grassland Earless Dragon National Recovery Team.
CAG has since argued that construction of the northern road is required as an evacuation route, especially for “VIP” passengers like the King, the PM and foreign officials, and to enable increased economic activity at the Airport. However, there is already a dirt road evacuation route where the northern road is now to be constructed. With the construction of the Nancy-Bird Walton Airport in Western Sydney now nearing completion, Canberra Airport is no longer set to be an economic hub for our region.
CAG’s northern road request was approved by a delegate of the former Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett in 2009 on the condition that proof be provided that the road’s construction and operation would not increase the risk of extinction for the East Majura population of Canberra’s Dragon.
In January 2020, a fire took hold near the southeast corner of the Airport, renewing claims by CAG that the northern road matter needed to be “sorted out”, for fire safety. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison stepped in.
In May 2020, a new and more direct route was approved for the northern road, straight through the East Majura population’s remaining habitat (fig. 1). This route was all the land Defence would relinquish. The route was approved by a delegate of former Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Concerningly, no scientific proof was provided that the road’s construction and operation would not increase the risk of extinction for the East Majura population of Canberra Dragons (as required by the original 2009 approval).
In September 2022, the Friends of Grasslands community group requested that the road’s approval be suspended by the then Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek based upon new evidence that the Grassland Earless Dragon actually consisted of four separate species.
On 1 May 2023, Minister Plibersek’s Office cleared a media release (attributable to the Department) stating “The Minister has sent CAG back to the drawing board” while Canberra Airport Group identify options to avoid, mitigate, or satisfactorily compensate for impacts on Canberra’s Dragon from the northern road.
In early February 2025, CAG began construction of the deadly and unnecessary direct route of its northern road despite the project being still under review.
In late February 2025, CAG confirmed it was still holding off constructing the final 800m of the road that would destroy the most critical habitat for the Canberra Dragon and work on a “nature-positive plan” for the Road as a result of public pressure. No such plan has been released and works at either end of the critical 800m of habitat have continued.
In May 2025, CAG said it had received approval from the Federal Environment Department to “move” the grassland from the northern road construction site. By June 19 2025, the grassland in that sensitive 800 m of the construction site had been marked out with flags. Clearly, ‘moving’ the grassland is imminent, but there is no proof that it will work.
A decision on this review was communicated at 4.07 pm on Friday 1 August 2025. The detail of CAG’s plans to avoid impacts to the Canberra Dragon have not been published.
Photo: Hedda Murray