title: Growling Grass Frog Conservation Management Plan council: ballarat state: vic category: growth-area status: active last_compiled: 2026-04-10 source_docs:
- ballarat-west-growth-area-growling-grass-frog-conservation-management-plan.txt
Growling Grass Frog Conservation Management Plan
The Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis) within the Ballarat West Growth Area was prepared by SMEC Australia for the City of Ballarat in December 2011. It ensures the long-term viability of this nationally significant species as the growth area is developed.
Background
The Growling Grass Frog (GGF) is listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1987 and Vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Ballarat West Growth Area contains a natural creek system (Winter, Kensington, and Bonshaw Creeks) and numerous farm dams with varying amounts of wetland vegetation — known and potential habitat for the GGF. (Source: ballarat-west-growth-area-growling-grass-frog-conservation-management-plan.txt)
Key Content
Problem
Urban development in the growth area triggers threatening processes for the GGF: habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, disease transmission, predation, pollutants, weeds, and road impacts. Without mitigation, the project may compromise the long-term viability of the GGF metapopulation.
Conservation Strategy
Pre-Construction Phase:
- Preparation of complementary plans
- Creation of compensatory habitat: artificial waterbodies of varying depth along Winter Creek floodplain, planted with endemic aquatic vegetation
- Minimum 2-year vegetation establishment period before compensatory waterbodies suitable for GGF occupation
- Waterbodies clustered to enable effective movement
- Weed removal and control
- Monitoring of existing habitat
Design Features:
- Road crossings designed to maintain habitat connectivity
- Stormwater treatment to protect water quality
Construction Phase:
- Sediment control measures
- Protection of habitat areas
- Waste and pollutant management
- Translocation of GGF where necessary
Post-Construction:
- 2-year monitoring program (population monitoring and water quality)
- Adaptive management framework
- Annual reports to Council, DSE, and Commonwealth
Outcome
The CMP is designed to achieve a significant improvement in the amount and quality of GGF habitat, maintaining links to habitat areas elsewhere in the locality. Implementation should also achieve broader biodiversity outcomes. (Source: ballarat-west-growth-area-growling-grass-frog-conservation-management-plan.txt)
Current Status
Active. The CMP operates alongside the ballarat-west-nvpp — offset areas along Kensington and Winter Creeks serve dual purposes for both native vegetation offsets and GGF habitat creation.
Relationships
- Implements: ballarat-west-psp biodiversity objectives
- Related: ballarat-west-nvpp, biodiversity-strategy
- Legislative: EPBC Act 1999, FFG Act 1987
Gaps
- Monitoring reports — not in corpus. Status of compensatory habitat and GGF population outcomes unknown.
- Whether the CMP has been updated since 2011 — unknown