TUNCARRY GREAT LAKES ADVOCATE (Forster-Tuncurry.Australia) 24 November 04 Has rumoured croc croaked it?
Be alert, but not alarmed.
Just weeks before the Great Lakes' peak holiday period, with thousands of people looking forward to coming here to swim, snorkel, fish and spend their money, a Jaws-like story has surfaced.
It's suggested there could be a crocodile lurking in Wallis Lake.
No names, no pack drill, right.
It's suggested that perhaps 18 months ago, a couple of young blokes travelled south from Queensland with a 3ft crocodile they intended to deliver to the reptile park at Gosford.
During their journey they paused here, decided to give the croc a swim in the Wallamba River, tied a rope around it and placed it in the water.
The crocodile bit through the rope and swam to freedom.
From the Advocate's intensive investigations, no-one has seen it or heard it since.
The only "evidence" that it might be about was an alleged attack on a well known commercial fisherman's net - by something - during the mullet run a few months ago.
Clearly though, the rumour has got around. Our original informant heard it on a golf course.
We contacted the National Parks and Wildlife Service and yes, they'd heard the rumour about 12 months ago but had seen or heard absolutely nothing since.
We contacted Waterways. Nothing.
We contacted Fisheries. Nothing.
We contacted Taronga Park Zoo and spoke to a reptile expert.
Yes, he said, such a thing could happen. The crocodile could possibly last a summer, or even a season or more. But the cold water would certainly kill it before long.
There was a good reason why crocodiles had never been spotted south of say, Brisbane - even though they were capable of swimming huge distances.
The water was just too cold for them.
The water in Wallis Lake can drop to a temperature of 13-15 degrees in winter (11.8 at the Wallamba Broadwater on July 2, 2002, according to Great Lakes Council). The air temperature in this area can drop to zero. Snow fell here this past winter.
The water temperature around Australia's Top End, where crocs abound, doesn't vary greatly from the 27-30 degree range. Air temperatures of course are higher.
Footnote: Now these points are worth a thought:
- The Advocate's original informant is a Pom who likes snorkelling. Australians like pulling Poms' legs.
- Another alleged sighting of a crocodile - in the Wallangat River - by a member of a well known local fishing family is reported to have surfaced probably about two years ago. Or was it basically the same story as above?
Has rumoured croc croaked it?