Melbourne Strategic Assessment Program

Melbourne is experiencing rapid growth, with its population expected to reach approximately 8 million by 2051. As new suburbs emerge on the outskirts of the city, the pressure on our native animals, plants, and delicate ecosystems increases. The Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) Program ensures that development in these regions complies with Victorian and Australian environmental laws, safeguarding our biodiversity for the future. This program is supported by the MSA Act.

The program simplifies the approvals process for developers. Developers are required to meet specific criteria, such as paying the MSA levy. This levy contributes to funding the development and management of our conservation reserves and initiatives, as well as supporting essential conservation management programs for at-risk species. This strategic, long-term approach is designed to deliver significant benefits for our native ecosystems, plants, and animals.

The MSA will offset the growth areas by protecting over 20,000 hectares of prime habitat surrounding the city's periphery using funds collected through the MSA levy. These resources are allocated towards establishing a network of conservation reserves, areas, and management programs:

• establishing the 15,000 hectare Western Grassland Reserve

• establishing the 1,200 hectare Grassy Eucalypt Woodland Protected Area

• protecting 36 conservation areas spanning over 5,000 hectares

• preserving 145km of growling grass frog habitat and creating more than 80 wetlands

• protecting and managing the southern brown bandicoot

• protecting and managing habitats for the golden sun moth, matted flax-lily, and spiny rice-flower.

Learn more about the program's conservation achievements in Delivering Melbourne's Newest Sustainable Communities Report (2009).

Reach out to Ecology Services Victoria for assistance navigating the MSA approval process.

Source: DEECA (2025) - https://www.msa.vic.gov.au/about-the-msa-program/how-it-works