SIGNS NEEDED: Croc advocate calls for warning and education signs at popular Mowbray bridge viewing point

Tommy told Newsport that the iconic and familiar yellow croc warning signs can be found on highways and roads near just about every small creek and waterway in the far north, but ironically, not at the Mowbray Bridge.

“For one of the most know crocodile spots around here, there’s no bloody signs!” Tommy lamented. 

“There’s a sign about the overhead powerlines, which isn’t really a problem for Swedish tourists coming to look at crocodiles.” 

He said since tourists have been able to travel again post-COVID, there’s been a huge upsurge in crocodile spotting at the bridge.

“It’s outrageous – in a good way. People obviously want to see this amazing native animal that we have.”

But Tommy also points out a concerning side to the story that he has witnessed – including unsafe practices by some tour bus drivers and guides. 

“From what I’ve seen, some of the local tour groups putting people in danger by bringing them too close, I feel like the wrong messages could be being sent by one or two of the tour groups I won’t name,” he said.

Part of the problem, he believes, is that the concrete pedestrian bridge installed by the state government in recent years was never properly completed and has big gaps in safety.

“I personally believe they need to re-block the end of the bridge. Because everyone calls it the crocodile viewing platform. That’s not what it was, it was meant to be a bike track.

“That bridge goes nowhere. I’ve noticed that a lot of people do wander off on that side where there are no fences and things like that.

“People also need to be aware that they could be entering people’s properties (next to the River), and that it’s dangerous, especially that lots of people will take kids – and again it is from a place of innocence, ‘oh I have to go and look at the crocodile mate!’ ”