Agriculture Minister Kim Chance has announced the government is on track to eradicate an invasive pest from Western Australia - this one being the European Starling.
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance has announced the government is on track to eradicate an invasive pest from Western Australia - this one being the European Starling.
But Opposition Environment Spokesman Steve Thomas is calling for more action, saying the Minister should assess the work done and look at current funding for the program.
The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below
Agriculture and Food Minister Kim Chance said eradication of the invasive pest European Starling from the State's south coast region was on track, with the removal of more than 500 of the pest birds.
Mr Chance is visiting Ravensthorpe and Munglinup today to discuss the eradication and surveillance program conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food, with support from other Government and community groups, including the Department of Environment and Conservation.
The Minister said European Starlings were listed by the World Conservation Union as among the world's worst 100 invasive alien species.
"I am very pleased with the work currently under way in the south coast region to control European starlings," he said.
"Starlings, if not controlled, could have a serious impact on the Western Australian environment, as well as agriculture and public amenity."
Mr Chance said that as of December 2006, about 1,600 inspections had been completed of areas on the south coast between Mason's Bay and Coomalbidgup.
"About 500 starlings have been removed by shooting and trapping," he said.
"Surveillance and control work is continuing throughout the area.
"Staff from the Department of Agriculture and Food will be locating flocks of starlings and utilising control techniques such as trapping and netting."
The Minister said that in order to boost the surveillance efforts, six indigenous staff had recently been employed because of their valuable bush skills and excellent knowledge of the region.
"Their primary role is to conduct surveillance in the Stokes Inlet to Hopetoun region over the next five months," he said.
"However, they will also provide valuable assistance to broader surveillance and control activities on farmland throughout the year."
The full text of an announcement from Opposition Environment Spokesman Steve Thomas is pasted below
Shadow Environment Minister Dr Steve Thomas has welcomed Agriculture Minister Kim Chance's visit to the starling control program in the south of the State, but wants an accurate assessment of how successful the program is.
"Kim Chance has said up to December 2006, 550 starlings have been removed," Dr Thomas said.
"I want to know how many starlings are left - indeed why are there any left?"
Dr Thomas said the campaign to eradicate starlings had been going on for some years, and the Minister should now be assessing the success or failure of that work, and whether the Government had adequately resourced the program.
"How committed is this Government to the eradication of this diabolical pest? If this program needs greater resources, then get on with it," Dr Thomas said.
"The longer these pests remain in any number in Western Australia, the more likely they are to become permanent and endemic."