The head of a federal inquiry looking into controlling the spread of cane toads has defended having no West Australian representatives on the committee and only holding hearings in Canberra.

Submissions closed last week, with only three received from WA.

The inquiry will examine the effectiveness of control measures to limit the spread of cane toads across Australia.

It is the final inquiry of the House of Representatives Environment and Energy Committee before the federal election.

Acting Chair Pat Conroy said the committee wanted to take on the issue because of how "impactful that particular invasive species has been on Australia".

Mr Conroy said that having no West Australian members on the committee was not a problem.

"While there are no WA [representatives] on the committee, please be assured that we will be taking a very national focus on this issue," Mr Conroy said.

"Just because I come from the Hunter Valley does not mean that I am not interested in how we control the spread of cane toads in the Kimberley."

The committee will have two hearings during the first sitting of the year, both in Canberra.

The cane toad frontline continues to march through the Fitzroy catchment towards Broome and the Northern Pilbara. ( Supplied: Parks and Wildlife )

Toads marching across the region

Since crossing the border in 2009, cane toads have been moving across WA's Kimberley region at a rate of 50 kilometres per year. They have now covered two-thirds of the region.

One idea, which will be put to the hearings next week, will suggest using 80 Mile Beach south of Broome as a choke point, slowing the toads by starving them of access to water.

The proposal is based on 10 years of research by Melbourne University and involves toad proofing dams and troughs on pastoral stations between Port Headland and Broome.

This would create a "waterless barrier" in the 80 Mile Beach region where the Great Sandy Desert almost reaches the coast.

Large sections 80 Mile Beach are owned and managed by the Karajarri people.

Despite decades of attempts, the spread of the toads has never been stopped. ( David Gray: Reuters )

Indigenous rangers 'not consulted'

A joint submission from the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (KTLA), Nyangumarta Karajarri Aboriginal Corporation (NKAC) and Pew Charitable Trusts endorsed the choke point proposal.

"We urge the committee to recommend support the delivery of a Toad Line in the 80 Mile Beach region," the submission reads.

"Our organisations would strongly support such an outcome and are prepared to actively work to achieve what is needed: modification of water points and ongoing monitoring and eradication by Indigenous Rangers working with local residents."

But Karajarri Rangers said they had never been specifically consulted about the idea.

Ranger coordinator Ewan Noakes said rangers and traditional owners were often the last people to hear about solutions being drafted, and they would like to be brought into the process earlier.

Researchers hope the toads could be halted at a choke point on 80 Mile Beach, south of Broome. ( Supplied )

"Sometimes a lot of things happen behind the scenes and no-one really comes and talks to us about it," Mr Noakes said.

"Just come down and consult with us and we can paint a really good picture of what the country is like … the information that the rangers and the traditional owners have would go a long way to aiding with the research."

Karajarri man Braedan Taylor said he was concerned about the impact the toad would have on his country and wanted to work with researchers to bring the pest to a halt.

"It does worry me — I'm mainly thinking of the bush tucker side of things and mainly all them wetlands like all the springs and gilas near the desert," Mr Taylor said.

"We would want to help with them. We would all want to take part."