CROC IN SUBURB
Alert goes out but resident says just put up signs and leave him be
A LARGE crocodile has been spotted stalking a popular fishing spot in White Rock, not far from suburbia.
Division 3 Councillor Cathy Zeiger has alerted the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection to the presence of the saltwater crocodile, estimated to be about 4m long, that has surfaced in Skeleton Creek, off Giffin Rd.
Cr Zeiger said she was concerned the reptile posed a danger to the many people that went fishing in the creek.
“There seriously needs to be a commonsense solution here,” she said. “The State Government needs to step up their game, and do something about this.
“No one’s saying let’s go in and annihilate them, but there’s got to be something really proactive we can do about it.”
A resident who lives nearby, who did not want to be named, said the croc had been in the area for many months.
“We want signs up, we don’t want him removed,” he said.
“There are some kids that go swimming there.
“He hasn’t taken anyone yet, but plenty of people go fishing.”
Far North Queenslanders have been on alert following two attacks on humans by crocodiles within the past week, one of which was fatal.
Kanimbla man Warren Hughes, 35, was killed by a 4m croc while spearfishing at Palmer Point, north of the mouth of the Russell River on Saturday, March 18.
The crocodile was killed by rangers on Tuesday night.
In the early hours of the following Sunday, Innisfail teenager Lee de Paauw, 18, was mauled by a 4m saltie after he jumped into the Johnstone River from a wharf along the Fitzgerald Esplanade.
That croc was captured by rangers on Friday morning and will spend the rest of its days in a farm or zoo.
The Palaszczuk Government has issued a new crocodile management plan, which expands areas where crocs are immediately removed if they venture close to human habitat.