Canterbury grass skinks, like this one at the Pāmu New Zealand farm at Eyrewell, near Oxford, have been found on the designated route for the Woodend Bypass. Photo: LDR / Pāmu New Zealand
A population of at-risk Canterbury lizards are set to give up their homes to make way for the Woodend Bypass.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has found a population of Canterbury grass skinks during an ecological survey of the route for the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass.
Negotiations have been begun to relocate them to the Kaiapoi lakes nearby.
Canterbury grass skinks are listed as at-risk, declining by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
An NZTA spokesperson said a lizard monitoring survey has been completed by a qualified herpetologist to help determine the skink numbers and how best to protect them.
A lizard management plan will now be prepared for DOC approval.
''This will identify the actions required to ensure lizards and their habitats are protected and ensure compliance with the Wildlife Act,'' the spokesperson said.
''DOC will assess the lizard management plan as part of processing any wildlife permit applications.''
Conversations have begun with the Waimakariri District Council's greenspace team to consider creating a lizard receptor site on land next to the northern Kaiapoi lakes, which is not far from the first stage of the bypass development.
The council had already planned for the development of the site, with $207,908 set aside in the 2025/26 annual plan, which is out for consultation.
Should the proposal go ahead, NZTA would monitor the new site for two years, before handing it back to the council.
Populations of the Canterbury grass skink have been found living on the north Canterbury coast and inland areas.
They grow to 85mm long, with the tail being equal to or slightly longer than the body length.
The species has been listed as at risk of declining. The cost of rehoming the lizards will not be known until the lizard management plan has been completed and processed by DOC, the spokesperson said.
Lizards have needed to shift for other major roading project in recent years.
Last year the elusive striped skink in the Rotokare Scenic Reserve, in South Taranaki, was relocated to make way for the Mt Messenger Bypass project.
In July 2018, three species of lizard were relocated to a new pest-protected home in the hills near Paekākāriki, overlooking Kāpiti Island, to make way for the Transmission Gully motorway north of Wellington.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
