Toad Media

MEDIA RELEASE

17 June 2006

Cane toad battle to intensify and diversify

The Carpenter Government will contribute a further $3.6million towards the cane toad battle over the next four years, bringing the total fighting fund spend to $6.1million, Environment Minister Mark McGowan announced today.

Mr McGowan said the funding would be used to diversify the battle against the toxic pest, which was currently located as far west as the Victoria River - approximately 180km east of the Western Australian border.

Speaking at the second Cane Toad Forum to be held in Perth, the Minister said the State Government was serious about keeping the cane toad out of WA.

"Together with the local community, the Stop the Toad Foundation and the Kimberley Toadbusters, we are working hard to trap, kill and monitor cane toads across the border in the Northern Territory," he said.

"We will continue to fight the war.

"However, with the amount of water in the Victoria River and the amount of eggs laid by each female every year, we need to prepare for the fact that they may arrive in WA.

"We need to have a plan B."

Mr McGowan said his recent trip to Brisbane to attend a Cane Toad Workshop highlighted there was no quick fix to the cane toad problem.

"We know that solutions using biological controls might be 10 or more years away," he said.

"That is why it is essential we continue the fight to reduce their density and buy as much time as possible.

"The additional funding allocated as part of the 2006-07 State Budget will enable the fight to continue as well as broadening the battlefront to provide research assistance into biological controls."

Forum organisers, The Stop The Toad Foundation (STTF), released their 'Dry Season Strategy' at today's gathering.

STTF regional co-ordinator Graeme Sawyer said the strategy heralded a call to arms to groups and individuals who wanted to play a vital part in the battle in the north.

"We need numbers of capable people, well equipped and trained, to participate in on-ground actions in September and October 2006,"Mr Sawyer said.

"It is not a comfortable time of year in these parts - for toads or people. We are looking for people with determination and remote area know-how, who are ready, willing and able to get to the region to join the Stop The Toad team."

Mr Sawyer said the foundation had also produced a 'Frog 'n Toad' travel kit for people undertaking seasonal travel to the Kimberley and across the top end.

"The travel kit aims to make people passing through toad infested country aware of the threat of hitchhiking toads and other relevant information," Mr Sawyer said.

"The foundation is also promoting a sponsorship drive to raise funds for the production of toad traps. Many of these will be needed in the field during the dry season and 26 WA schools are now involved in the foundation's trap-building program.

"The foundation's 'application for support' package will also be promoted. This program provides access to equipment and funds for people who want to participate in toad control activities."

Mr McGowan used the forum to pay tribute to the tireless work of community groups working at the 'front line'.

""In April this year, I travelled north to witness first-hand the work being carried out by the CALM Kununurra-based cane toad battle team and volunteer groups such as the Kimberley Toadbusters," he said.

"The experience left me with even more admiration for all the people who, week after week, continue to catch and collect toads is such steamy, humid and very, very wet conditions."

Kimberley Toadbusters's board member Sandy Boulter said registered volunteers with the group now represented around 10 per cent of the indigenous and non-indigenous Kununurra population.

"The toadbusters first wet season toad busting campaign has led to a greater understanding of how toads move and behave, at and ahead of the front line," Ms Boulter said.

"These wet season findings have formed the basis for our field strategy for the upcoming dry season on-ground campaign."

The Minister said he looked forward to continuing the good relations the Government had with the STTF and the Kimberley Toadbusters.

"We will also continue to work with the Northern Territory Government to locate and monitor the active front lines of toads moving towards WA and to implement control techniques against them," he said.

"I hope we can continue to all work together to recognise the challenge and build on the bold steps that have already been taken."

Minister's office: 9222 9111