Wangi Falls to reopen this weekend amid crocodile management plan review

Wangi Falls is on track to reopen this weekend while the government confirms it is reviewing its crocodile management plans.

Wangi Falls is set to reopen to swimmers this Sunday, about a week after a 2.4m saltwater crocodile attacked a man.

Northern Australian Parks director Dean McAdam said rangers and the crocodile management team would reopen the falls after five consecutive nights of surveys showing no evidence of crocs in the water.

“Previously, it was a three night survey – so we’ve moved to five nights just to bring it into line with high-profile swimming areas like Berry Springs,” he said.

“We’ve also changed our plans in terms of our maintenance frequency of surveys.

“Previously we were doing them fortnightly – we’ve now decided that we’re going to start doing those weekly.”

Northern Australia Parks director Dean McAdam said the crocodile management team was increasing its frequency of surveys and improving “deterrent” barriers at popular swimming holes. Picture: Helen Orr

Despite increased surveys, Mr McAdam warned there were no guarantees a crocodile would be kept out of Top End waters.

“There’s a whole range of things that we can do that all combined, reduce the risk to low.”

Mr McAdam also said his team was working on improvements to the “deterrent” barriers in place at Wangi Falls, Edith Falls and Wangi Falls.

“They’re a fence that if a crocodile is swimming up, (it) hits, turns around and goes back if it’s a large crocodile,” he said.

“If it’s a smaller one, there still may be a possibility tiny ones could get through.

“The fences are designed so that in the wet season when there’s flooding, panels are either moved or they swing away so that debris doesn’t collect and destroy the fences.

“We’re just improving the design because there is an element of it that, over a long time, may not be as effective.

“The thing with crocodiles is that most people assume they swim but they do walk long distances.”

A 67-year-old man was attached by a 2.4m saltwater crocodile at Wangi Falls on Monday, among dozens of horrified swimmers at the popular waterhole. Picture: Supplied

An Environment, Parks and Water Security spokeswoman said the department was reviewing its crocodile management plan for Litchfield National Park.

It comes after Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on Wednesday wrote to Mr Albanese to request that both governments review their crocodile management plans.

The commonwealth is responsible for saltwater crocodile management in Kakadu National Park, however the Territory looks after the rest.

Mr McAdam would not weigh in on the culling debate but did suggest public perception of crocodiles had changed due to several factors.

“We as humans are going further and further out into the bush … and technology is certainly improving,” he said.

“You only have to look at this event – photos of the crocodile were up within an hour on social media.

“Animals reach a threshold where there’s carrying capacity, where the land and the rivers can have a carrying capacity – and we’re probably at that level (with crocodiles).”