- This event has passed.
Snap Rally! Save the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon
February 24 @ 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Late last week we found out that the Canberra Airport Group has started construction on the Northern Airport Road. One of our volunteers went out to have a look and the bulldozers are moving fast.
If completed, the Northern Airport Road will bisect vital habitat for the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon. The Dragons are charismatic small lizards that live in spider burrows in endangered natural temperate grassland ecosystems. The area to the north of Canberra Airport is home to one of just three remaining Dragon populations.
In 2022, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek identified the reptile as one of 110 endangered species nationally to be recovered under her new Threatened Species Action Plan. At that time the Minister asked CAG to demonstrate the road could be built and operated without increasing the risk of extinction for the Dragon population, without destroying habitat that is critical to the Dragon’s survival.
Canberra Airport Group have not published any documents that show they will meet the conditions. Instead, they have started to construct a road that will destroy vital habitat!
That’s why are are acting fast!
We are hosting a snap rally TODAY to call on the Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to revoke the approval for the Northern Airport Road under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and to halt the destruction of this habitat.
The protest is being held at 11.30am outside the Federal Environment Department, at the John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace in Parkes. We will be near the fountain in front of the café (picture below). On the opposite side of King Edward Terrace is the entrance to the National Gallery.
It is essential that the Minister act now before too more invaluable habitat is destroyed. Every moment counts for this beautiful lizard. At our rally, we’ll say, Minister, step in before it is too late!
If you can’t make it to the rally, you can still help. We need as many people to email Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to call on her to revoke the approval for the Northern Airport Road. You can email or call the Minister’s office at the details below:
- Email: Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au AND tanya.plibersek.mp@aph.gov.au
- Phone: (02) 6277 7920
Photos of the devastation below:
