Darwin City Council – Local Government Landcare Partnerships Award

Project Profile

Issues

Working closely with, Larrakia Nation Rangers,community groups and Frogwatch NT, the Zero Toads project was developed by Darwin City Council to address cane toad control strategies to protect biodiversity by setting up trap lines and humanely eradicating the species.

Project Detail

While many local councils are working towards more sustainable communities, the Darwin City Council has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its work in developing and implementing the Zero Toads project.

Working closely with community groups, Larrakia Nation Rangers, and Frogwatch NT, the Zero Toads project was developed by Darwin City Council to address cane toad control by setting up trap lines and humanely eradicating the species.

Darwin City Council’s Climate Change and Advisory Committee address local climate change and environmental issues and monitor the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan. The Committee advises Council on environmental actions needed to protect Darwin’s natural assets. The plan includes a specific strategy to assist with the eradication and control of the cane toad and protect biodiversity.

Following the invasion of cane toads in areas around Palmerston and bush areas surrounding Darwin, Council moved to create a toad exclusion refuge for native wildlife by shutting off these corridors and preventing any further movement of cane toads into Darwin, particularly the foreshore and remnant vegetation zones.

The project provided ranger groups within the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation with cane toad traps and sufficient training on how to set up and monitor the traps and conduct ‘toad busts’ to minimise the negative impacts of biodiversity and key remnant habitats on their land. Through the project, the Larrakia Nation Rangers have installed exclusion fencing and traplines and coordinated over 30 community toad busts with 141 volunteers dedicating 250 hours to the busts. This has resulted in the collection of over 40,000 cane toads in the past two years.

The project has helped to preserve many iconic species such as quolls, wallabies, frill neck lizards, yellow spotted monitors, goannas and fresh water crocodiles. Zero Toads has also enhanced community awareness and understanding of toads and encouraged participation in activities.

Darwin City Council has strongly promoted the Zero Toads project through the development and display of promotional posters and educational material. Council has provided an advocacy and support role to Larrakia Nation, authoring a grant application which provided employment and training for the rangers.  Council supports environmental community groups and has provided editorial for newspaper and magazine articles for this particular project.

Through the Zero Toads project, Darwin City Council has protected native vegetation and iconic species by controlling the spread of and eradicating cane toads.

The Darwin City Council project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Darwin City Council Local Government Landcare Partnerships Award