Toad Media
State Government adds $1million to cane toad fight
Statement Released: 31-Jul-2005
Portfolio: Environment, Premier
31/07/05
The
State Government has upped the ante in the fight against cane toads
by injecting a further $1million into the campaign.
Premier
Geoff Gallop today said the State Government would provide $500,000
to the community-based Stop the Toad Foundation. A further $500,000
would be channelled into community awareness programs, including
advertising.
The
latest allocation brings to $2.5million the amount the State Government
has committed to the fight against cane toads in the past eight
months.
"I
have received a briefing from Environment Minister Judy Edwards,
who visited Kununurra and the Northern Territory last week to inspect
progress with the State cane toad initiative," Dr Gallop said.
"Also,
earlier this month I met representatives of Stop the Toad to discuss
further actions the State Government could take, especially to assist
community-based efforts to contain the western spread of cane toads.
"It
was evident from Dr Edwards' visit to the Kimberley and Northern
Territory that community involvement and awareness are critical
elements in the Government's overall strategies to try to contain
the toads to the east of the Victoria River, 200km from the Western
Australian border.
"The
representatives from Stop the Toad have demonstrated that they want
to complement the State cane toad initiative with community involvement
in 'on the ground' actions such as trapping.
"On
that basis, the Government's commitment to increase funding for
the program by a further $1million is a worthwhile investment in
the State's lifestyle and environment.
"WA
is taking a real lead in this fight and we are calling on the Federal
Government to match the State's commitment and match our $2.5million."
The
Premier said the Government would work with the Stop the Toad campaign
on a joint cane toad co-ordinating group that would ensure actions
by the volunteer conservation organisations and the Government were
complementary.
Dr Edwards
said the spread of cane toads across the Northern Territory had
been devastating, particularly on native mammals such as the northern
quoll that also occurred in the Kimberley.
"For
example, the northern quoll population in Kakadu National Park effectively
has been wiped out," she said.
"The
impact has been such that the NT Parks and Wildlife Service has
had to establish populations of northern quolls on offshore islands
in an effort to conserve the species for future generations."
The
Minister said a key feature of the WA campaign was to work collaboratively
with the Territory.
"The
degree of co-operation between the NT Parks and Wildlife Service
and WA's Department of Conservation and Land Management is critical
to the success of the strategy being implemented," she said.
"I
was particularly impressed at the degree of enthusiasm and collaboration
staff from both agencies have for this program.
"WA
is the only State that so far has implemented active control and
management initiatives ahead to the invasion of the toads. However,
it is clear that we can learn much from the experience of Territorians."
Dr Edwards
said a high level of community awareness about cane toads was critical.
"Cane
toads are known hitch-hikers," she said.
"If
the community - especially the traveling public - is aware of the
risk of hitch-hiking toads, when we will increase the effectiveness
of our surveillance and quarantine measures."
Premier's
office: 9222 9475
Environment Minister's office: 9220 5050
|
