CVCIA Landcare volunteers were joined by Perth-based film makers, Prospero Productions, last Friday when they completed filming for an upcoming National Geographic episode for the TV series ‘Only in Oz’ to document the efforts to control cane toads in the lower Clarence Valley, being the southernmost frontline of cane toad populations in Australia.
Along with Only in Oz host Luke Joseph Ryan the film crew visited Ross Farlow’s cane farm at Maclean to film and present a range of facts regarding the cane toads introduction to Northern Queensland in 1935 in an attempt to control the cane beetle pest, before taking in views of the cane toad frontline from the Maclean Lookout, and then proceeding to Brooms Head to join in on a regular Friday night cane toad roundup with the ever enthusiastic CVCIA Landcare volunteers.
Just as toading got underway on Friday night a heavy downpour came through and didn’t dampen the spirits of the record 30 volunteers who proceeded to systematically comb the village collecting a total of 283 toads for the evening.
The previous week CVCIA volunteers completed a check of both Maclean and Ilarwill and 212 cane toads were collected with 107 from Maclean and 105 from Ilarwill village with both these results and the Brooms Head tally last night being very consistent to results from most recent roundups at both of these locations despite recent record dry weather.
Additional funding from the NSW Government for control of cane toads in northern NSW has recently been announced and in the lower Clarence the main effort is in the area south of the Clarence River bounded by Maclean/Ilarwill, Townsend, Gulmarrad, Taloumbi, Lake Wooloweyah and Palmers Channel, including James Creek, and landowners who have freshwater dams or water bodies and would like their properties checked for cane toads are encouraged to contact Clarence Landcare on phone 6643 5009 or email clarence_landcare@bigpond.com.au to organise for an inspection to be completed.
Further promotion of cane toad control and correct identification was undertaken at Iluka Markets by CVCIA members, Jan and Allan Armstrong, last Sunday with a couple of Iluka residents reporting that they had toads arrive in mulch that was delivered underlining the need to be mindful and vigilant when importing landscaping supplies or similar goods from locations that have cane toads.
The CVCIAs Friday night control effort will move to Micalo Island this Friday night where despite toad numbers having significantly declined over the last three seasons there remains plenty of work to do to ensure this pest is eradicated and interested people are welcome to join the effort with volunteers meeting at Jan and Allan Armstrong’s place on Micalo Island at 7.45pm Friday night and all toaders are advised to wear sturdy shoes, bring a bright torch or headlamp and a lidded bucket if available.
For any enquiries or detailed directions to the meeting place please contact CVCIA Landcare toading contact Scott Lenton on phone 0438 430 234 or visit the CVCIA Landcare page on Facebook.
Scott Lenton
