Major new thrust against dieback announced

24/11/97

The State Government today announced a major new thrust in the fight against dieback in Western Australia.

Speaking in Albany at the World Conservation Union Conference today, Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the new strategy followed a comprehensive assessment by CALM of the recommendations made by the WA Dieback Review Panel, and of public submissions made during the three-month public comment period following release of the review report.

Mrs Edwardes said dieback caused by the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi presented a serious threat to the native vegetation of the South-West Land Division.

"As a result of this assessment, the Government will implement every one of the 33 recommendations made by the review panel," she said.

"As a priority, I will establish a Dieback Consultative Council with representatives from Government, industry, community and conservation groups."

The council's role will be to:

·      further advise the Government on adopting the Dieback Review Panel's recommendations, and replace the existing dieback policy with one that focuses on delivering resources to the most valuable and protectable areas;

·      convene committees of experts to report on specific technical and scientific matters, as required;

·      advise the Minister on priorities for management and research, and identify institutions equipped to advance the knowledge and management of dieback;

·      advise on funding sources and research management, including contributions from the non-Government sector;

·      ensure new knowledge is made widely available through publication of reviews; and -

·      promote close liaison between planners, managers and researchers in Government, research institutions and the private sector.

Dr Owen Nichols, a consulting faunal ecologist, farmer and former environmental research manager in the private sector, will chair the council.

Mrs Edwardes said the Department of Conservation and Land Management had already acted on a number of the review panel's recommendations. A senior officer had been appointed dieback co-ordinator, and a number of task groups had been set up to deliver change.

"The focus is on issues like developing more efficient and cost-effective methods of mapping dieback, refining hygiene strategies and extending the training and function of expert staff," the Minister said.

Another priority has been to establish a Phosphite Action Team within CALM. Phosphite is a relatively simple compound based on phosphorous that protects dieback susceptible plants from Phytophthora. It is being used to protect rare plant species and communities that are under threat.

"The ground-breaking research associated with phosphite has already allowed CALM to treat a number of populations of critically endangered rare flora in the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River National Parks," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Western Australia's expertise in dieback research and management has been recognised at national and international level and, as a consequence, the Commonwealth agency Environment Australia has contracted CALM to develop a draft National Threat Abatement Plan for Phytophthora species."

The plan will identify management and research strategies needed to reduce the dieback threat for specific regions of Australia, including the South-West of WA.

Environment Australia has also allocated $500,000 to supplement CALM-funded research into a variety of dieback issues, including the treatment of priority areas with phosphite.

Media contacts: Ministerial Diana Russell Coote (08) 9421 7777

CALM Kevin Vear (08) 9334 0336