Mayors pleased at croc summit

THE State Government has listened to the crocodile concerns of three Far North mayors and agreed to consider a raft of increased safety measures.

The mayors, from the Cassowary Coast, Douglas Shire and Mareeba Shire, met Environment Minister Steven Miles in Cairns on Wednesday.

The meeting had been arranged because the councils were unhappy with a recently released State Government crocodile management plan, saying it did not go far enough to protect people.

Cassowary Coast Mayor John Kremastos said he had gone into the meeting with a list of requests and Dr Miles had agreed to consider them.

“One of those was to conduct a crocodile survey of the Johnstone River and we were told that it was already under way,” Cr Kremastos said.

“I was pleasantly surprised. I thought there might have been a bit of push back, but no, he was definitely well briefed on our area.

“He knew what he was talking about with this region.

“He welcomed our commitment to making it safer and we were very pleased with the outcome.”

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu was pleased with the opportunity to discuss the issue.

She said Dr Miles had agreed to “review and strengthen the curent crocodile management plan and agreed in principle to upgrade certain parts of zoning around Douglas Shire”.

Ms Leu said details would be finalised in coming weeks.

The main points raised with Dr Miles included the expansion of zones where large and troublesome crocodiles could be removed and increased communication between department rangers and councils.

The meeting came as concerns increase over Far North crocodile activity, with two fatalities in less than a year.

In May last year, Cindy Waldron was taken by a crocodile while night swimming at Thornton Beach in the Daintree. Last month, Cairns spear fisherman Warren Hughes was taken from Palmer Point near Innisfail.