Media Statements - State Government helps local counterparts in fight against dieback

23/5/00

The State Government today released an important aid for local government to help in the battle against dieback.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes and Local Government Minister Paul Omodei jointly released guidelines that will help metropolitan and country areas in the fight against Phytophthora cinnamomi, or jarrah dieback.

Mrs Edwardes said

Managing Phytophthora Dieback - Guidelines for Local Government

was designed to protect bio-diversity values by controlling and reducing the spread of disease.

She said the guidelines would be an invaluable tool in giving local government, community groups and private landholders information required to manage dieback disease.

“Local Government has been of great support in tackling what is an enormous challenge to the conservation of our wonderful biodiversity,” the Minister said.

“Dieback has been likened to a ‘biological bulldozer’ and while much of the public focus has been its impact on jarrah, there is a very real threat to the bushlands and heathlands which are habitat for many other species that succumb to its scourge.

“These guidelines are part of an overall strategy in combating dieback. Other measures include the introduction of chemical treatments to protect populations of threatened species, as well as a new policy based on the recommendations of an independent panel of experts who reviewed phytophthora management.”

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said the threat of dieback was not something that government alone could manage.

“The fight involves a commitment by the whole community, similar to the Government’s approach to salinity,” Mr Omodei said.

“Fighting dieback involves all of the community in a range of strategies and these guidelines, produced by the Dieback Working Group, will help local government in managing dieback in a community-based way.

“The Shire of Kalamunda has been a major sponsor of these guidelines and we hope they will prove an important tool in the fight against dieback in bush, heathland and forest throughout the South-West.”

Mrs Edwardes said that by implementing the procedures in the guidelines, local government would be making a very positive contribution, not only in stemming the spread of dieback, but also in providing a lead to their communities and environmental groups.

The Department of Conservation and Land Management, Kalamunda Shire Council and the Natural Heritage Trust provided funding for the guidelines.

Media contact: Steve Manchee on 9421 7777