Plan to manage crocodiles in Townsville

The Newman Government has announced a new estuarine crocodile management plan for the Townsville area that puts the safety of people first.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said it was a local plan for local people.

“The Newman Government is taking the concerns of residents and visitors of far north Queensland very seriously and is giving community safety the highest priority,” Mr Powell said.

The new program sets up a three tier approach, similar to that adopted in the Northern Territory. 

The highest tier aims to proactively remove all crocodiles from designated areas and actively prevent more crocodiles from entering them (Zone 1).

Physical barriers such as weirs, rock walls, gates and fences are required to prevent crocodiles from entering Zone 1 sites.

In Townsville the Ross River upstream of Alpin's Weir will be Zone 1 area (initially only in the dry season while further investigations are undertaken).

The second tier (Zone 2 areas) would see crocodiles more than two metres in length, and any smaller crocs showing aggressive behaviour, removed from designated areas.

Tier three would see ‘crocodiles of concern’ – those which have displayed threatening behaviour – removed. 

This would apply to all areas that are not Zone 1 or 2.

It would mean that:

•      At the request of the Townsville City Council, Zone 2 areas would be created at Balgal Beach, The Strand, Pallarenda, the eastern coast of Magnetic Island, the coast from Ross River to The Strand and the Ross River (upstream of Alpin's weir)

•      The removal of saltwater crocodiles within the designated urban area will continue in line with current procedures

•      All saltwater crocodiles more than two metres in length, and any smaller crocs showing aggressive behavior, will be removed from the vicinity of the boat ramp at Balgal Beach and around boat ramps within the Ross River (downstream of Alpin's weir)

•      Improved educational/warning signs erected at these boat ramps

•      In all other areas, crocodiles of concern to continue to be removed as is the case now.

Mr Powell also announced funding support the Council to maintain swimming enclosure nets and an offer of support to Surf Life Saving Queensland which recognised activities conducted by its clubs that support the crocodile management plan's objectives.

“The Newman government has listened to the concerns of Queenslanders in the far north and has acknowledged the increasing interaction between crocs and people rather than stick to the ‘one size fits all’ approach of the previous government,” he said.

“We have worked with local councils to come up with location specific plans to get the balance right between public safety and conservation of crocodiles.

“Individual Crocodile Management Plans have been developed for the Cairns, Hinchinbrook, Cassowary Coast and Townsville local government areas.”

Mr Powell said the government had also listened to the views held by all four councils that management efforts had to be backed up by strong public education and would be expanding the Crocwise program.

“This is a ‘can-do’ policy on managing crocodiles that has been arrived at after consultation with local councils and is based on both local knowledge and scientific evidence,” he said.

 “Northern and central Queensland is croc country, and there could be large and potentially dangerous saltwater crocodiles in any waterway or body of water.

“That is why it is important to always be croc wise in croc country.”

Be Croc Wise and:

•     Obey crocodile warning signs

•     Never swim in water where crocodiles may live

•     Never stand at the water’s edge or on an overhanging log, stand a few metres back for fishing or cast netting

•     Never provoke, harass or feed crocodiles

•     Never leave food scraps, fish frames or bait at the water’s edge, near a camp site or boat ramp as this may attract crocs to the area

•     Always supervise children.

Further information on crocodiles and being Crocwise is available at www.ehp.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 20 December 2012

Media Contact: Ken Vernon 0431 027 017