General News
4 June, 2025
Action needed to remove salties
SALTWATER crocodiles are being commonly seen in farmers’ dams and local rivers, prompting a local cane farmer to launch a petition to push the State Government to have them removed.
Farmer George Adil launched the petition, which is calling for more areas of the Mareeba Shire to be put into a zone that allows for the automatic removal of the animals, at the FNQ Rotary Field Days last week.
Mr Adil said that over the years, crocodiles had managed to get into the Barron and Mitchell Rivers and he was also aware of a farmer who had two crocs of more than 4m in length removed from his dams.
“This intrusion has been ongoing for many years, so finally you lose patience, and you do something like what I’m trying to do now,” he said.
“We know there’s saltwater crocodiles in the Mitchell River, and certainly down Pickford Road, only two kilometres from my place.
“I have to get in the Barron (River) to service the foot valves on my pumps and, of course, now you’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head.
“And I know a farmer near Two Mile Creek who’s got saltwater crocs in his dam right now. There was a 4.2m one taken out about a year and a half ago and before that there was a 4.4m one.
“Now there’s two more in there and Parks and Wildlife were told about it in January. So, it’s been six months and they’re still there.”
Cr Lenore Wyatt confirmed there was one croc located in the dam in January and that every suitable action had been taken to report it.
“I know that there was one in the dam that was reported in January, and it has still not been removed,” she said.
“The department is letting us down when we have followed all they have asked of the affected farmers and especially being within Zone F and targeted for immediate removal.”
Member for Hill Shane Knuth has been trying to get his Crocodile Control and Conservation Bill supported but, so far, has failed to get the backing from the government that he needs.
“Our waterways are infested with crocs because of the failure of back-to-back governments on taking action,” he said.
“Earlier this year I introduced the Bill to Parliament again.
“The Bill would not only enable immediate removal of crocs from populated waterways, but farmers and landowners could also contact the authority to have the crocodiles removed from their dams, bore drains and properties.”
Mr Adil’s petition calls for more areas in the Mareeba Shire to be included in Zone F.
Any crocodile found in Zone F is automatically targeted for removal after a sighting has been confirmed, regardless of size or behaviour, according to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
The areas surrounding the Mareeba Wetlands are currently identified as Zone F, meaning it is an atypical habitat for saltwater (or estuarine) crocodiles.
It starts from the very southern end of Lake Mitchell (upstream) and includes part of the Mitchell River, Two Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, Boyle Creek and Sandy Creek.
Mr Adil is adamant that from the Mitchell Falls (near Mt Mulgrave) to the source, and from the Barron Falls to the source, also needs to be included as Zone F.
Mr Adil will present his petition to the government before they make a decision on the current Crocodile Management Plan draft that was expected to be released last year.
After obtaining just under 500 signatures over three days during last week’s Field Days, Mr Adil is now working with local businesses to have his petition forms available at their premises and is also releasing an online e-petition.
The petition forms can be found at Casali’s Mareeba, Claude Caters Mensland, PIMS (Pumping, Irrigation and Machinery Services), The Express Newspaper, and the Biboohra service station.
A spokesperson from DETSI said the draft Queensland Crocodile Management Plan was still under consideration by the Queensland Government due to the change of government late last year.
The Express asked DETSI whether it was aware of the saltwater crocodiles being in local rivers and dams and whether it had received any reports, however, the department did not provide a response by deadline.
Crocodile sightings can be reported to DETSI via the QWildlife app, online via their website, or by calling 1300 130 372.
