Why a threatened frog became part of new Melbourne’s new community

Woodlea at Aintree is home to about 17,000 people across the Melbourne west development, with its population expected to eventually reach about 25,000. A threatened frog helped shape part of a 17,000-person estate in Melbourne’s west that has been named Australia’s best new community. Fifteen young growling grass frogs were identified within a year of Woodlea at Aintree creating a purpose-built wetland habitat for the species. The 7000-lot development won Development of the Year – New Communities at the 2026 Urban Developer Awards for Industry Excellence. RELATED: 1920 Melbourne gem targets $3.4m deal Landlords count profits amid Melb rental sell-off Cruel twist behind Melb housing market crunch Judges singled out the early delivery of schools, parks, retail and transport connections as the estate’s population grew. We Love Aintree’s Jonathan Ingram remembers when fewer than 1000 people lived at Woodlea and it was largely an isolated pocket of homes. “It’s gone from being just a little island of homes into an actual suburb, an actual community with schools and community centres and facilities and shops,” Mr Ingram said. He said living in a new greenfield community could otherwise m...