Mr WOOD - 2005-10-11
As you would know from today’s Northern Territory News, last Saturday a number of crocodiles wandered off from the Noonamah Crocodile Farm NT into residential areas along Bees Creek. Is it a requirement of the permit to keep crocodiles under section 57(1)(b)(ix) of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act that secure fencing is erected to stop crocodile outbreaks and to protect the public? If so, how often does your department check to see if the permit or licence conditions are being met? Was the reason for the escape caused by the lack of adequate fencing? What action is your department doing to make sure that this does not happen again? How many crocodiles did escape? How many have been recaptured? Is your department assisting in finding the rest of the escapees?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, he has written a whole novel over there. I will attempt to answer most of them for the member for Nelson.
In answer to that long question, Parks and Wildlife …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, member for Nelson, you asked the question and I am attempting to answer it, if you want to listen to it.
Parks and Wildlife were alerted to the incident and attended very promptly to assist in the efforts to locate the escaped crocodiles. As I understand, there were 12 and, to date, they still remain at large. Parks and Wildlife are out there continuing to assist the management of the Crocodile Farm in their efforts to locate them.
Obviously, this is a serious incident and it needs to be thoroughly investigated and, if necessary, practices improved. The Parks and Wildlife Service has spoken to the management of the farm and those issues are being looked at, at the moment.
The operators of the Crocodile Farm did indicate to my office that the incident was caused by human error and that, as a consequence, they have looked at the security systems and procedures. Rather than from Parks and Wildlife, management will be undergoing an immediate, independent review of that incident to prevent further incidents such as what happened today.
In answer to some parts of your question, member for Nelson, responsibility for on-site farm management of the Crocodile Farm rests within the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. Outside of that, it rests with my Parks and Wildlife Department. Certainly, my officers will be assisting officers from that department in their investigations.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, he has written a whole novel over there. I will attempt to answer most of them for the member for Nelson.
In answer to that long question, Parks and Wildlife …
Mr Wood interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: Well, member for Nelson, you asked the question and I am attempting to answer it, if you want to listen to it.
Parks and Wildlife were alerted to the incident and attended very promptly to assist in the efforts to locate the escaped crocodiles. As I understand, there were 12 and, to date, they still remain at large. Parks and Wildlife are out there continuing to assist the management of the Crocodile Farm in their efforts to locate them.
Obviously, this is a serious incident and it needs to be thoroughly investigated and, if necessary, practices improved. The Parks and Wildlife Service has spoken to the management of the farm and those issues are being looked at, at the moment.
The operators of the Crocodile Farm did indicate to my office that the incident was caused by human error and that, as a consequence, they have looked at the security systems and procedures. Rather than from Parks and Wildlife, management will be undergoing an immediate, independent review of that incident to prevent further incidents such as what happened today.
In answer to some parts of your question, member for Nelson, responsibility for on-site farm management of the Crocodile Farm rests within the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines. Outside of that, it rests with my Parks and Wildlife Department. Certainly, my officers will be assisting officers from that department in their investigations.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016