Cattana Wetlands: No evidence of crocodile present, signs installed after reported sighting

A popular Cairns family day use area has been assessed by the Department of Environment and science following a recent crocodile sighting.

A POPULAR Cairns family day use area has been assessed by the Department of Environment and science following a recent crocodile sighting.

Cattana Wetlands at Smithfield now features crocodile warning signs ahead of the 420m boardwalk through feather palm forest, freshwater and salt water lakes.

The first sighting was reported to DES on August 29, and the department has confirmed no further action will be taken.

“On 29 August, a member of the public used the QWildlife app to report what they believed to be a 2-3m crocodile in one of the lagoons at the wetlands,” a spokesman said.

Cattana Wetlands at Smithfield now features crocodile warning signs. Picture: Nuno Avendano

“On 30 August, another member of the public used the QWildlife app to report hearing growling sounds at the wetlands, without sighting a crocodile.

“Wildlife officers conducted a site assessment but found no evidence of a crocodile being present. They also installed recent crocodile sighting warning signs at the wetlands.

“There have been no further reports of any crocodiles in the Cattana Wetlands.”

It comes as a large crocodile was caught on camera cruising along a popular Far Northern river “so close” to the centre of a town.

Retired TAFE teacher Ron Todd, who grew up swimming in the Johnstone River as a child, spotted the 4-5m crocodile eerily close to a boat ramp and fishing spot near the Jubilee Bridge at Innisfail during his morning walk on Friday.

While the Department of Environment and science hasn’t recorded the animal, Mr Todd said it wasn’t a surprise to see one in the large river – but he was taken aback by how close it was to the public.

“Every time I come to Innisfail I do the bridge to bridge walk along the river and this was probably 20m from the main wharf,” he said.

“There’s a boat ramp there, and it’s a fishing area.

The crocodile was cruising along the Johnstone River.

“We were watching it for 10 minutes and at one point it was swimming right at us, then it turned away and just completely disappeared. Anyone going past a minute later would have no idea it’s there.”

Mr Todd said based on its estimated size of about 4-5m he suspected it was an older crocodile, and one that locals would likely be familiar with.

In the past there have been multiple reports of a 4m croc basking on the river’s bank near the bowls club, near East Innisfail State School and further inland where Bamboo Creek meets Johnstone River.

It’s also the same river where Innisfail man Lee De Paauw, then aged 18, was mauled by a crocodile after leaping into the river on a “dare” in 2017.

“I grew up in Innisfail and we would not spend a week without jumping into the river and going for a swim. And if we weren’t swimming, we’d be fishing there,” he said.

“But as this one got close I just thought ‘oh my God’, it’s massive. The scales on it were huge and it had such a thick tail.”

Originally published as Cattana Wetlands: No evidence of crocodile present, signs installed after reported sighting