Call to update map of city’s crocodile zone

A RETHINK is needed into Townsville’s crocodile zone as the city changes.

The decision on crocodile management was made at Townsville City Council’s Community Health and Environment Committee yesterday.

The council will ask the Department of Environment and Science to review the current Townsville estuarine crocodile zone management map.

Committee chair Cr AnnMaree Greaney said the city’s population had grown and the map needed to be updated.

“I think ( a review will help) determine where the crocodiles are in our region,” Cr Greaney said.

“Things do change and the topography changes, so we just need a more detailed map.”

The council is seeking faster response times and action to crocodile sightings in high public areas too. In a report to the council, there have been 51 crocodile sightings this year within the Townsville area.

Last year there were 70, which was up from 61 in 2016 but down on the 90 reported sightings in 2015.

“There is opportunity to consider and update community support and responses to crocodiles,” the report said.

“Especially estuarine crocodiles which either transit through the city or take up res- idence near boat ramps around the city.”

Cr Greaney said there had not been an increase in reported crocodile sightings in Townsville in the past six months.

“It is good for us, there has been no events cancelled or anything like that because of croc sightings,” she said.

The committee chair attended a hearing into Katter’s Australian Party’s controversial Safer Waterways Bill last month.

“It was very interesting and good to listen to Robbie Katter, there’s a lot of issues that need to be addressed and council supports the State Government in the initiatives they put forward,” Cr Greaney said.

The bill proposes culling crocodiles in some waterways.

The council decision still has to go to a council meeting to be approved.