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Latest News and Issues
Read the latest Wet Tropics e-newsletter and back issues. You can subscribe here.
Quick Links to news items:
» Keep it Cool poster competition
» Cassowary Award nominations now open
» CREB track remains closed
» Wet Tropics Plan review
» Rainforest Aboriginal News
» Community survey released
» Cassowary Awards 2008
»Wet Tropics Fire Workshop
» New look for World Heritage signs
» Cassowary DVD highlights Aboriginal culture
» Wet Tropics greenhouse gas audit
» Kuku Yalanji land agreement
» New logo promotes World Heritage toursim
» Wet Tropics tourismexpenditure
» National Heritage List
» Electric ants
» Feral Deer
» Miconia
» Limnocharis
See our image library for photos of Cyclone Larry, feral deer and the signing of the Wet Tropics Regional Agreement.
Keep it Cool poster competition - part of the Festival of Cairns
Celebrate World Environment Day and help protect the reef and rainforest from the impacts of climate change, keeping them cool for future generations. Primary and secondary school classes or individuals are encouraged to:
- Draw, paint or otherwise create an A3 sized poster
- Create a collage, small mural or wall hanging
You can find an entry form and more information on ourevents page.
Cassowary Award nominations now open
 The Cassowary Awards were established by the Wet Tropics Management Authority in 1999 to recognise individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions towards the conservation and presentation of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area.
Award winners come from a range of backgrounds including farmers, scientists, conservationists, artists and tour operators. The diverse award recipients, have all made an exceptional effort towards the protection and management of the World Heritage Area, often devoting many years of their life to their passion.
About ten new awards are given each year. The Wet Tropics Board seeks nominations and advice from its staff, advisory committees, liaison groups, previous Cassowary Award recipients and the broader community. Click here for more information or a nomination form.
CREB Track remains closed until mid-July 2009
 The Wet Tropics Management Authority and Ergon Energy advise as of 3 July that the CREB Track will remain closed until mid-July 2009 (weather permitting) while Ergon Energy removes landslides and repairs the road after wet season damage, as well as removing the powerline along the road. Workers have been frustrated by motorcyclists ignoring the signs and continuing to ride through the construction site. This is highly dangerous as conductors are being lowered onto the track.
The CREB Track was the original line up the east coast to Cooktown. This section of the line was switched off in June 2007 and replaced by a new inland line from Mareeba to Lakeland. However the northern section from Bloomfield south to the Telstra tower on the McDowall Range will remain and be fed from the Cooktown end.
Ergon Energy says that the track will be closed until mid-July 2009 while the 18km section of line from the top of the Daintree to the McDowall Range is dismantled. It is a difficult logistical exercise involving both vehicles and helicopters in extremely rugged terrain, so for public safety the track has been closed. The 68 poles and eqipment would be flown out by helicopter. The intention is to complete the work before the onset of the wet season, though any rain during the work could bring it to a halt, given the nature of the access.
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 Plan Review - Have your say!
 The Wet Tropics Management Authority is now in the final stages of reviewing the Wet Tropics Management Plan 1998. The Authority is proposing a number of amendments to the Plan and is inviting your comment.
A brochure has been prepared to assist you to understand what the proposed amendments are and how to make a submission.
Anyone may make a submission. It is your World Heritage Area so you are encouraged to have your say.
Click here to download the submission form (PDF format)
More information is available from the Plan Review page.
Formal submissions closed on 27 March 2009.
Rainforest Aboriginal News
 The latest Rainforest Aboriginal News is now available. This edition features a number of stories about recording and keeping Rainforest Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Community survey released (December 2008)
 A survey of Wet Tropics residents shows 92% community support for the World Heriatge Area and 67% support for Aboriginal cultural listing of the Area. People said that they mainly appreciated the Area for its contribution to their quality of life and for enhancing their environmental awareness.
The Community Survey provides detailed knowledge of the community’s use and perceptions of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. This information will assist in ensuring the long term sustainable management of the Area. Data from a similar survey undertaken in 2002, combined with the results of the 2007 survey, has provided the Wet Tropics Management Agency (WTMA) with an understanding of changes that may have occurred over the five year period.
Cassowary Awards 2008
 The 10th annual Cassowary Awards were held on Saturday 8 November at Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Twelve new Cassowary Awrds winners were honoured, as well as numerous other awards for schools. To see the winners go to Cassowary Awards 2008, or read the media release.
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.
Cassowary DVD highlights Aboriginal culture - Thursday 29 May 2008
 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:
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.
New logo promotes World Heritage tourism
World Heritage tour operators will stand out from the crowd with a new branding initiative by the Wet Tropics. World Heritage Tour Operator stickers featuring the iconic cassowary will be appearing on tour operator vehicles throughout the region. See the media release for more details.
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.
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