Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu is calling for parts of the Douglas Shire be rezoned under the new Queensland Crocodile Management Plan following increased crocodile sightings at several Douglas Shire beaches and boat ramps.
Mayor Leu said the request for rezoning locations was not a knee-jerk reaction but a considered evaluation by council of the issues surrounding crocodile management over several months.
“The perceived increasing risk from large mature crocodiles and the consequent reduced safety of our beaches also poses a potentially devastating impact on the Douglas tourism industry through lost visitation and reduced length of stay,” she said.
Mayor Leu commended the State Government for its ongoing commitment to education around crocodiles but said the perceived increased threat in the Douglas Shire requires a tougher approach which includes more local resources to respond to confirmed sightings such as locally-based indigenous Kuku Yalanji rangers.
“This is not about wanting to get rid of crocodiles, it's about managing and minimising the risks associated with their increased activity in places they were previously not a threat,” she said.
The new Queensland Crocodile Management Plan and EHP proposals to refresh and improve its CrocWise messaging was discussed at a quarterly CrocWise roundtable with Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Dr Stephen Miles in Cairns Thursday.