Rangers remove small 2m croc from Centenary Lakes

Action has been taken following the appearance of a 2m croc at a suburban Cairns lake last week, metres from a children’s playground. See the video.

A small crocodile has been trapped and removed from Centenary Lakes on Greenslopes St. Picture: Supplied

Action has been taken following the appearance of a 2m croc at a suburban Cairns lake which was spotted metres from a children’s playground.

Numerous reports about the saltwater crocodile were made to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation in response to sightings metres from the Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space.

Edge Hill resident and passionate advocate for the area Trevor Johnston said despite many dismissing the animal’s presence, croc sightings at the Chinese Friendship Garden were actually quite rare.

“There has only been one before and it was spotted early in the piece and it was gone straight away and that was six or seven years ago,” he said.

“It’s big enough to attack a small child and it’s right next door to the playground.”

On a year’s long crusade to rid the area of an invasive water lily species Mr Johnston said workers tasked with the removal of the plants were one of the first to spot the croc.

A croc trap set at Centenary Lakes in 2009.

Under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, the area falls within an Active Removal Zone.

This means that any crocodile confirmed to be present is automatically targeted for removal.

And last week contractors from the Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation were able to successfully capture the crocodile and remove it from the waterway.

The female croc measuring between 1.75 and 2m was subsequently placed at a crocodile farm.

A DESI spokesman thanked members of the public who reported the crocodile to the department.

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Originally published as Rangers remove small 2m croc from Centenary Lakes