Palaszczuk Government bolsters far north crocodile management

Published Tuesday, 21 June, 2016 at 11:26 AM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef
The Honourable Steven Miles

The Palaszczuk Government has guaranteed the jobs of 10 wildlife officers in regional Queensland and engaged a high level specialist advisor as part of its $5.8 million Budget commitment over three years for crocodile management.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said four of the officers were based in Cairns, including Wildlife Officer Corinna Browne whose position had just been made permanent thanks to the new funding.

“Corinna and her colleagues were funded under a limited life arrangement introduced by the former LNP government, which would have come to an abrupt end in June,’ Dr Miles said.

“I’m delighted to be here in Cairns to be able to personally welcome Corinna to the team at the start of this exciting new era in crocodile management.

“The budget will also fund the employment of an additional two staff to support crocodile management activities in Central Queensland, with others also based in centres such as Innisfail and Townsville.”

Dr Miles said the $5.8 million commitment over three years would include a comprehensive program to monitor crocodile populations, led by crocodile expert and EHP Principal Wildlife Officer Dr Matt Brien.

“Dr Brien is currently undertaking the preliminary work so that the planned crocodile population survey is based on rigorous science,” Dr Miles said.

“Assisting Dr Brien is Dr Laurie Taplin who has agreed to come on board as a specialist advisor, bringing an invaluable historical perspective on Queensland’s crocodile population.

“This crocodile population survey – covering rivers and estuaries from Cape York to Gladstone for at least three years – is part of the Queensland Government’s crocodile management review.”

Dr Brien said crocodile survey work would be conducted at night time, and at particular tide phases when it is the best time to see crocodiles.

“It’s very important that we establish a rigorous method which can be applied throughout north and central Queensland where crocodiles occur,” Dr Brien said.

Dr Miles said the new funding provided for additional staff to deliver the crocodile survey program.

“This will be the most comprehensive crocodile population survey in Queensland in decades and data will be compared to figures going back as far as 1979,” Dr Miles said.

“It is important we find a solution that delivers public safety and survival of the species.”

Dr Miles said a consultation process was also underway to gauge community attitudes on a range of subjects including public safety, capture and removal, and the welfare and conservation of crocodiles.

“EHP officers will be on the ground in Cairns next week [from Monday 27 June] to conduct a series of consultation meetings with key organisations including Cairns Regional Council, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, the Queensland Crocodile Conservation and Protection Society, Surf Life Saving Queensland, and Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures,” he said.

“An important part of the Queensland Government’s crocodile management review is to establish what’s working and what can be improved and that’s why it’s important to seek the views of the community”.

Dr Miles also invited members of the public to share their views through an online survey at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au as part of the government’s review of crocodile management in Queensland.

ENDS

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