30 Nov 2011

Frog preservation will be costly

2:30 pm on 30 November 2011

Developers in Melbourne say property prices in urban growth corridors may skyrocket because of an endangered frog.

A draft report released under new Federal environment laws has recommended some growth areas be off-limits to developers to protect the growling grass frog.

Developers say the plan, a national first, does not give them any certainty, but frog experts say it is a good compromise.

The ABC reports Melbourne's outer suburbs are growing faster than anywhere else in Australia.

Conservation of the frog and other species is being considered in four urban growth corridors there.

Urban Development Institute of Australia executive director Tony De Domenico said limits on development due to frogs could add up to $A10,000 per block of land.

University of Melbourne frog expert Dr Geoff Heard said growling grass frog numbers in south-eastern Australia have declined in the past 20 - 30 years. Melbourne remains one of its strongholds.