COURIER MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 16 April 07 Croc gets evicted (Rosanne Barrett)
The leisurely life of a crocodile living at a popular picnic spot in Cairns is about to be disrupted.
The 2m saltie is living in Centenary Lake, near the city's centre opposite the botanic gardens.
The croc is believed to have been living in the lake since the wet season, when swollen creeks and rivers could connect to the area.
Government agencies have known of the crocodile but it has not been removed because of an understanding between the council and Environmental Protection Authority that it was not big enough to be a threat to humans.
But last Friday afternoon, Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne determined the reptile must go.
"It has teeth, it is a wild animal and it could inflict serious injury on a child wandering too close to the water's edge," Cr Byrne said.
"It has to go today, as far as I am concerned, irrespective or whether it is 1m, 2m or 20m.
"Centenary Lakes is a people place, and children naturally do go close to water's edge to observe birds, turtles and fish.
"This is what we created such a passive recreation space for."
But crocodile expert David Leyden, from Hartley's Creek Crocodile Farm, said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service carefully monitored the situation with crocodiles and would have removed it more quickly if it was ever a public safety risk.
Croc gets evicted