Michael Warren

Journalist

In what’s being dubbed a ‘croc roundtable’ a number of experts and government officials will gather together tomorrow in Far North Queensland to chat all things crocodiles following four separate attacks across the Douglas Shire and beyond since February this year.

The think tank will be staged in Cairns and include a range of delegates, croc experts, industries, traditional owners, conservation groups, rangers and elected representatives.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon will chair the meeting in which she is expected to announce additional funding of $4.175 million, over three years, for new measures around general croc safety.

The State Government confirmed the meeting will focus on DES’ enhanced Crocwise strategy, crocodile management plan consultation, research and monitoring of estuarine crocodile numbers and behaviour and future initiatives.

“In 2020, we established an independent expert committee to evaluate the crocodile management program in Queensland, including the results from the crocodile population monitoring program,” Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

“The committee found the program to be best practice and highly effective in reducing the risks to public safety while conserving crocodile populations in the wild.

“As part of this program, crocodiles that pose a threat to human safety are already targeted for removal by the department and its contractors.”

The meeting comes following four separate crocodile attacks in Far North Queensland this year.

On February 22, a man walked into the Bloomfield River and was attacked before a crocodile then snatched his dog and disappeared into the water.

In early April a man sleeping on the sand at Newell beach was attacked and nearly dragged into the water.

In late April a man was attacked while spearfishing at Archer Point.

Just over a week ago a man fishing on the banks of the Kennedy River at Lakefield National Park was taken by a crocodile.