Croc under the radar
Anger at automated response
A LARGE crocodile spotted lurking while campers swam nearby north of Ellis Beach went unreported because of frustration with the automated CrocWatch hotline.
Clifton Beach man John Lewis was playing out a common morning ritual, taking his dog for a run on the beach off the Macalister Range when he spotted a 3.5-4m crocodile in the water.
“It was probably about 40m away initially with its head and tail out of the water, having a good look,” he said.
“It spotted me and my dog on the beach, submerged, and then popped up in the second wave off the beach – probably about 20m away.”
Mr Lewis notified campers, who had been swimming laps, along the beach about 30m from shore before calling CrocWatch on 1300 130 372.
He hung up when he realised it was an automated hotline and called Division 9 Cairns Regional Councillor Brett Olds.
Cr Olds said he rang the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection’s regional wildlife managers directly and left a message, but received no response.
“The only reason I bothered them was because I thought it was a lifesaving deal,” Cr Olds said.
“John was pretty adamant people were in danger.”
He was also concerned for the nippers of Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club who return to weekly training this weekend about 2km south of the sighting.
A departmental spokeswoman said no crocodile sightings within the Ellis Beach area had been made this year, but officers would investigate this latest report. “Wildlife officers do not routinely call back people who make reports of crocodile sightings,” she said.
“Generally, a call is only made if wildlife officers require more information or to clarify the report.”
She urged members of the public to use the CrocWatch hotline to report any sightings.
“The Ellis Beach area is well within known crocodile country,” she said.
“Crocodiles will use the ocean to travel between inland waterways so EHP strongly reminds residents and visitors that no matter how many crocodiles have been removed, no waterway in croc country can ever be considered to be free of crocodiles.”