After 15 years, construction finally began on Canberra Airport’s new road – but there are already calls to stop it

The Canberra Airport has agreed to suspend construction work on part of a new road project in response to protests from environmentalists.

Diggers and dump trucks were beginning to carve out a new link road between Majura Road and Fairbairn, originally proposed way back in 2009 to make it easier to transport freight across the site.

But the Conservation Council ACT Region and Friends of Grasslands groups have long claimed the road would cut in two a natural habitat for the critically endangered Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata).

This small red-brown-coloured lizard, measuring less than 150 millimetres long and weighing 5 to 9 grams, is thought to only exist on up to 40 hectares of temperate grassland in the Majura and Jerrabomberra valleys.

Conservation Council ACT Region CEO Dr Simon Copland says construction is now underway on the southern end of the road “in the area that’s least sensitive [and] obviously they have the intention to finish [the road]”.

The council and Friends of Grassland group called a snap protest on Monday morning to protest the works.

“In 2022, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek put the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon on a threatened species recovery plan, and as part of that, she said the airport needed to provide evidence the road won’t impact the species,” Dr Copland says.

“But we haven’t seen that evidence. They haven’t done the work that we’re aware of.”

The group fears Canberra Airport is preparing to use the federal government’s pre-election caretaker period to “bulldoze the land and get away with it”.

Canberra Airport does hold valid Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation approval for the entire length of road, but Dr Copland says this predated a distinction between different types of the dragon.

“The grassland earless dragon has since been split into four different species, and so Canberra’s species is actually really rare … So we don’t really accept that approvals that were granted 15 years ago match the science that has happened since then.”

One idea that’s been floated to save the dragon population involves elevating the road and running pipes to allow the lizards to pass underneath. A lizard-proof fence would then be strung along both sides of the tarmac.

“But there hasn’t been research done to see whether a lizard would actually use that,” Dr Copland says.

“So we’d expect [Canberra Airport] to be a responsible developer and do some research to find out if that’s actually a viable solution.”

In the meantime, the group is calling for Ms Plibersek to “intervene and ensure construction doesn’t go ahead until we see these plans”.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water told Region that after talks with the Federal Government, the airport will continue to work on the southern half of the road but has agreed to suspend work on the northern half.

The spokesperson said this is “while options to confirm or strengthen protections for the dragon are being considered”.

“The Canberra Airport continues to work with the department, the ACT Government and species experts to manage potential impacts on the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon.”

Canberra Airport head of aviation Michael Thomson told Region the airport “remains committed to balancing critical infrastructure needs with environmental conservation”.

“The road project has been rigorously assessed and approved by the relevant authorities, ensuring no net loss of habitat, no fragmentation, and no increased risk to the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon population,” he said.

“We will continue to work closely with the department and recognized experts to focus on delivering a nature-positive outcome while ensuring safe and secure access to the Fairbairn Precinct.”