18/02/2006 - On-the-ground
efforts to stop the spread of cane toads
into Western Australia have been significantly
strengthened with $79,000 in funding to
the Kimberley Toad Busters from the Australian
Government, announced today by the Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell.
Kimberley Toad Busters, an East Kimberley
community volunteer organisation with more
than 400 community members and strong ties
to local Indigenous communities, will use
the funding boost to continue their critical
on-the-ground and educational activities
to fight the toads on the ‘western front’.
“This group is an inspiration, with volunteers
from Toad Busters spending their weekends
travelling over 600km throughout the Kimberley,
and as far afield as Victoria River in the
Northern Territory, undertaking toad busting
and strategic trapping activities,” Senator
Campbell said.
“The $79,000 funding announced today will
support the practical work of the Kimberley
Toad Busters, particularly in further engaging
Indigenous communities in the region in
major training exercises, collecting field
data on cane toad behaviour, native frogs
and other native species and purchasing
all-terrain vehicles for use in toad busting
work in more inaccessible and remote area.”
“Last year the Australian Government injected
a further $3 million to stop the devastating
march of the cane toads, taking the Commonwealth
to a total commitment of more than $10 million
to develop control methods and for strategic
management of cane toads,” Senator Campbell
said.
“The only real long term solution is to
find a biological weapon so the Australian
Government is investing in biological control
research and is also supporting local community
programs to help stop the invasive pest
from causing further environmental damage.”
Federal Member for Kalgoorlie, Barry Haase
MP, has welcomed the Australian Government
funding for the Kimberley Toad Busters and
applauded the work of the local volunteers.
“Vital on-the-ground work done by volunteers
complements research into toads which is
currently being undertaking and I am delighted
that Kimberley Toad Busters will be able
to continue and advance their activities,”
Mr Haase said.
“Support like this gives heart to people
on the ground and allows them to maintain
their determination to stop the advance
of this plague.”
The Australian Government is also working
with the Northern Territory Government to
limit the impact of toads in the territory,
with $422,000 being provided for island
biosecurity, native fauna protection, and
community awareness raising.
In addition, the Australian Government has
provided $40,000 from the Envirofund programme
to Frogwatch North to allow them to trap
cane toads in key wetland sites around Darwin.
“The Australian Government is continuing
to work with the Western Australian and
Northern Territory governments on the Cane
Toad Management Initiative having provided
$600,000 to stop toads entering Western
Australia, by strengthening border controls,
developing a system to quickly detect cane
toads, undertaking eradication campaigns,
and involving the community in this work,”
Senator Campbell said.
