Aerial spraying to be used in south coast heathlands against dieback disease

31/3/98

The Department of Conservation and Land Management this week will take to the skies in its fight against the deadly plant disease dieback.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today said CALM would use aircraft to spray areas of the Stirling Range National Park north-east of Albany, Cape Arid National Park east of Esperance and key areas south of Busselton.

The spray - called phosphite, a neutralised phosphorus compound - would protect several species of critically endangered native plants that were highly susceptible to dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi).

Mrs Edwardes said that phosphite was effective even at the low dose rates that would be used. The chemical poses no danger to humans or fauna and flora.

"Dieback in Western Australia's native flora is a biological disaster of international significance," the Minister said.

"It has been likened to a 'biological bulldozer', particularly in areas such as the heathlands of the south coast, which are among the world's richest zones in terms of the number of native plant species and their diversity."

Mrs Edwardes said the spraying program was a priority under the State Government's dieback control initiatives announced at the World Conservation Union Conference in Albany last November.

CALM and Environment Australia's Endangered Species Program for threatened flora and ecological communities are funding the spraying. It will be carried out by a Phosphite Action Team established by CALM.

Mrs Edwardes said target species included Stirling Range dryandra, Brown's banksia, mountain paper heath, yellow mountain bell, fringed mountain bell, Fairall's honeysuckle, dryandras, hakeas, and andenanthos.

"Several of these species have only recently come to light as a result of surveys that identified them as separate varieties," the Minister said.

"Some are so rare they are known from only a few individual plants."

Phosphite treatment has proven extremely effective in stemming the spread of the dieback fungus through plants. CALM's Science and Information Division has carried out extensive research on the compound over the past 10 years after it looked at systems orchardists used to protect fruit crops such as avocados that were susceptible to dieback disease.

"Aerial spraying is just one technique CALM is using to conserve the State's unique flora," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Seed from many endangered species has been collected and is being stored under specially controlled conditions at CALM's Herbarium in Como.

"This will ensure scientists always will have access to the species for further research, particularly into pharmaceutical properties of the plants."

Mrs Edwardes said the treatment was expected to last for two to three years.

"It is a holding operation until scientists can develop other methods of protecting vulnerable species," she said.

CALM is identifying other areas containing critically endangered species that could be protected using phosphite.

Mrs Edwardes also announced the membership of the recently appointed Dieback Consultative Council (DCC) formed to advise her on matters relating to dieback management and in Western Australia.

The council's initial priority was to advise on three of the recommendations made by the Western Australian Dieback Review Panel in its recently published report.

These recommendations are:

·      the Government to adopt a dieback management strategy that identifies significant areas that can be protected and concentrates available resources for hygiene measures;

·      fewer restrictions be placed on access to essentially unprotectable areas; and -

·      CALM develops protocols to objectively identify and manage protectable areas.

The council is chaired by Dr Own Nichols, a consultant faunal ecologist.

Other members are Cr Janet Atkins representing the WA Municipal Association;

John Tredinnick of the Forest Industries Federation of WA; Dr Felicity Bunny of the Department of Environmental Protection; David Sweet of Alintagas; Anna Napier of Main Roads WA; Cliff Morris of Western Power; John Gardner of Alcoa of Australia; Darren Herpich of Chamber of Minerals and Energy and chairman of the Northern Sandplains Dieback Working Group; Richard Bowering representing the flora industry; Dr Bernie Dell of the School of Biological and Environmental Science, Murdoch University; Graeme Rundle representing community conservation groups; Steve Wilkie representing combined recreation associations; Dr Frank Podger, who is an independent dieback consultant; and CALM executive director Dr Syd Shea.

Dr Owens said members of the public were invited to informally network with council members as one way of ensuring that the council canvassed the widest possible range of viewpoints in providing advice to the Minister.

Media contacts: Ministerial Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777