The Kununurra Cane Toad Working Group: (CTWG)
Meeting Minutes Wednesday 02 March 2005
Attendance:
Scott Goodson, Katya Tripp, Noel Wilson, Brad Rushforth, Gill Holmes, Peter Grigg, Dick Pasfield, Gae Mackay, Doug Palmers, Karin Carnes, Lee Scott-Virtue, Gordon Graham, Keith Wright, Chris Adams.
Chris Richardson – APB
Outlined brief background of State group, management/reports, etc.
Prevention $200,000
Biodiversity $200,000
Extension of public awareness $ 80,000
Management cane toad project $120,000
$600,000 Budget
Questions for Chris Richardson
Dick Pasfield What is the relationship or mechanism for getting local information through to State group?
Chris response Through management group, operations group, State group. Via direct letter, etc. Open lines of communication (please see handout for further reporting details)
Chris Adams Funds finish 30 th June – what happens next? What is the time frame for the strategy?
Chris response State Group will meet in March. Strategy is to be developed urgently
Draft in place by June.
Cane Toad Initiative Update (Noel Wilson)
Surveillance team:-
Main frontline Victoria River
Looking for advance population in front of frontline
Using established methodology
Timber Creek – no evidence of toads
Rangers seem to have been successful in eradicating toads
76km from border – population not found.
Kalkaringi – reports of toads, but none found.
Toads 40km east of Top Springs
Next – north of Victoria Highway to see movements over wet season.
Awareness/education increase next.
Need to get message out re; aboriginals V’s toads.
Liaise with existing networks established in NT.
School talks – Brad, Karen Communities – Karin
Public awareness strategy – Dept Agriculture WA
Covers everything CTWA has come up with.
Tender being produced to produce information/education materials.
Currently have available cane toad life cycle blocks and preserved adults, eggs and juveniles, banners
1800 telephone number set up through DAWA – statewide number.
Further details in handout notes from meeting – P8
New ‘pest note’ replaces the cane toad ‘farm notes’.
Return farm notes to Noel to be returned to Perth and replaced by new version.
Peter Grigg
VC guide – EK traveller’s guide – insert.
Message/pictures 3 visitors we don’t want in WA – toads, Ngoora burr and fruit flies.
CTWG subgroup media – will have opportunity to input and review draft education kits.
Trapping
Animal ethics committees haven’t yet approved traps developed in NT.
WA trying to get them approved as soon as possible.
Disposal of toads
Animal welfare looking at this
Being worked on but no recommendation as yet.
Roles and Responsibilities of State agencies
Details regarding roles and responsibilities as per handout from meeting.
Terms and Reference for KCTWG.
State group terms and reference – see handout from meeting.
Noel distributed draft terms of reference for discussion. Finalised draft version to be circulated by Gae Mackay (see end of minutes)
Membership
CALM Gae Mackay
NRM Biodiversity Facilitator Karin Carnes
NRM Rivercare facilitator Katya Tripp katya.tripp@environment.wa.gov.au
(check with Kel Baldock ???
DAWA Noel Wilson
OLW Dick Pasfield
KLC Doug Palmer send request to Rachel Quast
Des Hill address to Julie Melbourne
TO Ben Ward
APB Keith Wright send request to Tony Richmond
Kun VC Peter Grigg
Tourism WA Regional Manager (not yet appointed)
D of E Scott Goodson
SWEK Chris Adams
Joint Chair Noel and Gae
Cane Toad Action Plan
Karin producing updated version.
Cane Toad Forum
Lee Scott-Virtue:-
Looking for updates from DAWA, frog calls, etc and websites.
Speaker list – on website.
Community Day – Sat – 9 speakers and 7 displays – Knx Hotel dinner – venue leisure centre
Scientific Day – Sun – 16 speakers – 9.00am/4.30pm – BBQ boat – venue leisure centre
Poster competition:- primary school
Possible calendar later on
Cane toad art exhibition
Cane toad movies
Sponsor list on website
Scientific airfares, etc |
$14,000 |
Vehicles |
$3,500 |
Accommodation |
$6,000 |
Food |
$6,000 |
Frog Watch Tshirts |
$2,800 |
Awards/Videos |
$200 |
Aboriginal Elder - welcome |
$500 |
General expenses |
$2000 |
Approximate estimate $35,000
Currently raised $31,800 (including $5000)
Also SEEKS, SWEK, DofE,.Sally Malay, Slingair, EKT, etc
Still require $13,200
CTWG – funding for forum
$5000 donated to Cane Toad Forum endorsed by CTWA.
General Business
Wyndham work camp – available
Ben Ward requested supply of traps – to monitor and maintain, etc.
using youth program and feed back to communities.
Next meeting to tie in with Chris Richardson visit to Kununurra in early April.
Set for 2:30pm 5 th April 2005, at CALM office.
CTWG Revised (draft) Terms of Reference
Provide a forum for communication between relevant stakeholders on cane toad operational issues in the Kimberley
- Advise the Kimberley Operations Group and the State Cane Toad Management Advisory Committee on local and statewide issues relating to cane toad initiatives which cover the following areas:
- Prevention or minimisation of entry and establishment of toads in the Kimberley and the rest of Western Australia.
- Participate in effective statewide coordination of Cane Toad issues (includes liaison with the State Cane Toad Management Advisory Group and other groups investigating priority cane toad issues
- Public awareness of cane toad issues (includes the provision of printed material and dissemination of consistent and accurate information between agencies and the community)
- Biodiversity asset identification ad protection (includes liaison with lead agencies regarding impact research opportunities