Latest News and Issues

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» Wet Tropics art on display
» CREB track open
»Wet Tropics Fire Workshop
» New look for World Heritage signs
» Cassowary DVD highlights Aboriginal culture
» Wet Tropics greenhouse gas audit
» Kuku Yalanji land agreement
» Cassowary Awards 2007
» New logo promotes World Heritage toursim
» Wet Tropics tourismexpenditure
» National Heritage List
» Electric ants
» Feral Deer
» Miconia
» Limnocharis
» Wet Tropics Plan review

See our image library for photos of Cyclone Larry, feral deer and the signing of the Wet Tropics Regional Agreement.

Wet Tropics art on display

The Wet Tropics Poster Competition is now on display at the Cairns Regional Council and the winners will be shown at the Cairns Regional Gallery from 12 September. So get on dwon to the council building and vote for the people's choice awards. For more information see the media release.

CREB Track open as of 18 August 2008

The Wet Tropics Management Authority and Ergon Energy advise that the CREB Track will be open from 18 August 2008. The track has been closed since the wet season.

The CREB Track is the service access track for the old Ergon Energy powerline to Cooktown. It traverses a spectacular yet sensitive part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area from the Daintree River through China Camp to Bloomfield.

Motorists are reminded that the CREB Track is only suitable for 4WD vehicles and those with 4WD and vehicle recovery experience. It is not suitable for trailers and can become treacherous after any wet weather. Caution must be exercised and motorists should be vigilant for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

The public is also reminded that a permit to visit Roaring Meg Falls is required from the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency in Atherton. For a permit telephone (07) 4091 1844.

For further information contact Bill Carrodus at the Wet Tropics Management Authority on (07) 4052 0546.

Wet Tropics Fire Workskhop - Tuesday 24 June 2008

The Authority invited over 100 fire ecologists, land managers and members of the community to attend the national Wet Tropics Fire Workshop. The full media release is available here.

New look for World Heritage signs - Thursday 19 June 2008

Many new road signs in the Wet Tropics will feature the UNESCO World Heritage emblem. The full media release is available here.

A cassowary DVD was released today by Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and the Wet Tropics Managemnet Authority. The DVD shows the cultural significance of the cassowary to Rainforest Aboriginal people and the need to conserve cassowary habitat. The documentary ‘No Wabu, No Wuju, No Gunduy (No Rainforest, No Food, No Cassowary)’ was produced entirely by Girringun staff and Traditional Owners on their country as part of a training program. It will be distributed to schools, visitor centres, Aboriginal groups and others.

The full media release is available here. Copies of the DVD are available from WTMA by request.

Wet Tropics greenhouse gas audit released

An audit of greenhouse gas emissions in the Wet Tropics shows that we emit less greenhouse gases per capita than the national average. However, our emission levels are still well above many other industrialised countries. The audit was released today (20 December 2007) by the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA). It is the first regional audit of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

You can read more about the audit in the:

• media release
• audit summary
• full greenhouse gas inventory [2.4MB].
• the Wet Tropics climate change page.

Kuku Yalanji land agreement celebrated

The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people celebrated an historic agreement to cooperatively manage their traditional lands. On 9 December 2007 Justice Allsop of the Federal Court of Australia made a consent determination at a special sitting at Cape Tribulation. The land agreements cover much of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area from Mossman north to the Daintree and the Bloomfield River catchments. The agreements recognise the native title rights of the Kuku Yalanji people. They provide for Aboriginal land ownership and living areas, conservation areas, extended national parks, public access to designated tourist sites, some grazing areas and restrictions on the hunting of rare and threatened species.

You can read more about the Kuku Yalanji agreement on the native title page.

Cassowary Awards 2007

Eleven Cassowary Award winners were honoured by the Wet Tropics Management Authority at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures on Saturday 24 November 2007. Numerous students and schools were also commended in the Young cassowary Awards. Cassowary Awards recognise the efforts and expertise of the community to help conserve and kearn about the World Heritage Area. You can read all about the winners in the media release and on the 2007 Cassowary Awards page.

Wet Tropics tourism

New research shows that tourism in the Wet Tropics World heritage Area directly generates $426 million each year. This represents 21% of all tourism expenditure in the Wet Tropics region. See the tourism research page for details or download a summary of the research.

National Heritage List

In May 2007 the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area was added to the National Heritage List (along with other Australian World Heritage Areas). The Area was listed for the five National Heritage criteria which correspond to its World Heritage criteria. It is intended that over time, and subject to resources available, that the Wet Tropics of Queensland will be reassessed for its full range of National Heritage values.

Electric ant eradication

The Queensland Government is working with the local community to eradicate an outbreak of electric ants in Smithfield, Cairns, adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Originally from South America, the electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) is listed as one of the 100 worst pest invaders in the world. The ants are about 1.5mm long and coppery coloured. They do not have a nest, but live in groups in a range of sheltered situations. Call DPI&F on 13 25 23 if you think you may have them. A sample can be collected and identified.

You can more information from the fact sheets below:

»Electric ants fact sheet
»Progress report (November 2007)
»Controlling the movement of electric ants

Feral deer are here

The public is being asked to help spot feral deer in the Wet Tropics. The ‘deer spotting’ campaign will help to raise public awareness about feral deer and to prevent them spreading throughout the Wet Tropics.

» media release
» fact sheet
» brochure

Miconia eradication

The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water is conducting a campaign to find and eradicate miconia. Miconia calvescens is a large plant with giant purple leaves and poses a serious threat to our rainforests. Landholders who suspect miconia is present on their properties should contact the NRMW Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture on 4064 1144 or their local government pest management officer for further advice. See the media release for pictures and more details.

Limnocharis eradication

The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water is urging garden lovers to become weed warriors and help in the battle to eradicate Limnocharis, an exotic, aquatic weed, from Queensland ponds and waterways. This weed is similar in appearance to water hyacinth though much larger, up to one metre in height. Limnocharis has small, cup-shaped, yellow flowers. See the media release for details and pictures.

Wet Tropics Plan Review

The Authority is currently reviewing the Wet Tropics Management Plan to amend errors and inconsistencies, clarify ambiguities, and improve the overall operation of the Plan. An information booklet has been prepared which summarises the major changes roposed under the review and invites the community to make submissions.

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