Tuesday 12 July 2011

Croc-spotters targeted

: Police will be on the lookout for croc spotters on Mowbray River bridge.

by Kerry Larsen

Port Douglas Police have warned that a major accident at the Mowbray River bridge is only a matter of time if crocodile sightseers don’t stop endangering motorists trying to catch a glimpse of the pre-historic beasts.

The busy school holiday period has seen scores of sightseeing motorists stop on the shoulders of the Captain Cook Highway bridge to see two large crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks of the Mowbray River, or slow down to almost a standstill on the bridge itself to see one from their cars.

Port Douglas Officer-in-Charge Sergeant Damian Meadows said while they were yet to receive an official complaint, motorists were being warned that a serious traffic accident was a reality if the practice didn’t cease.

“Not only is it an offence to stop on a bridge, but there’s a potential for a very serious accident,” Sergeant Meadows said.

“The southern approach to the bridge is also a blind curve and takes considerable distance to stop at 100km/hr.

“And the shoulders on either side of the bridge are insufficient to walk on and that creates the potential for someone to be struck by a car.”

Sergeant Meadows said while there were small signs erected on the approaches to the bridge, many people became ignorant and disregarded them.

“Regular patrols of the bridge are being carried out and offending motorists will be charged,” he said.

And if you’re looking to get up close and personal with a croc, perhaps it may be wiser to visit one of the many zoos within the region to see one in captivity, or take a guided cruise up the Daintree River or Dickson Inlet to see some in the wild – safely.

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jack , 01-08-11 08:30:

Yeah, Richard, reduce the speed limit to a joke speed like 60 just so incompetent drivers wont kill other people, just like the joke speed limit between yule point and oak beach which all should be 100. people should be taking responsiblity for there own actions lest this place continue on the path to becoming a nanny state....

stephen , 29-07-11 18:19:

As Graham says - why not a lay-by one side of the bridge? Never any thought given to infrastructure developments in our area. It's obvious that crocodiles are attractive to visitors (and locals) so rather than persisting in the "do not stop on the bridge" stuff maybe CRC or Main Roads should be urgently looking at putting in a viewing area on the north or south side of the Mowbray river so that cars and pedestrians can safely stop and look. And the Mowbray is not the only place waiting for an accident to happen. Who thought the Rex lookout on the Capt Cook where the hang gliders operate made a good place for cars to stop and people amble across the road? There have been lots of near misses there.

graham cox, 28-07-11 17:12:

it is a great sight too see but why isn't there a sign to warn motorists too slow up. if we are trying to bring people to port douglas to holiday lets make it a bit less dangerous to have these experiences. why don't we put in a pull in area so all can see these crocs.

Benoni Henderson, 28-07-11 14:14:

The tourist buses and local buses that slow down to a crawl to let their passengers get photos of the croc need to be held accountable too!

Danielle Piat, 13-07-11 08:37:

I agree it is an accident waiting to happen - I drive over that bridge at least twice every day - yesterday around lunchtime there were at least 15 people actually standing on the bridge some right on the edge of the bridge but others actually on the road, admiring and photographing the 2 resident crocodiles - there were cars travelling both north and south - it is SO dangerous!!!!!! I do not think the speed limit should change - it is normally a safe stretch of road - but somehow action needs to be taken to stop people accessing the bridge.

Richard Hopper, 12-07-11 13:23:

I travel across that bridge twice every day and have seen the crocs quite often.....it's a great sight. However, in the last couple of weeks as I have approached the bridge from the Southern side, I have seen one vehicle permorm a three point turn on the bridge and a utility owned by a prominent business actually overtake on the bridge !! It's not just the tourists who need to use their common sense and yes I agree......it is an accident waiting to happen.
Reduction of the spped limit would be a logical and somewhat sensible start to solving the problem.