One of the last living fossils on the planet is about to receive an eviction notice after an "explosion" in crocodile numbers.
Tough new laws introduced by the Queensland government have given the green light for the apex predators to be removed from popular swimming holes and waterways.
As far as the North Queensland MP Shane Knuth is concerned, it's about time.
"There has been an explosion in croc numbers," he said in parliament.
"The crocodile population in far north Queensland is out of control."
The Katter's Australian Party member for Hill says the state's north is fed up with decisions made by those who have never seen a crocodile.
"Too often the people making these decisions are those who have never lived in north Queensland, who have never swum in Stuart Creek or Saltwater Creek, who have never skied in the Johnstone River or somersaulted off the pontoons at Lake Placid," he told parliament.
"If you try to swim across the Johnstone River, you will not make it alive."
Katter's Australian Party MPs have long pushed for the plan's expansion along with laws to be relaxed to allow culling by landowners, the harvesting of crocodile eggs and hunting safaris led by Indigenous rangers.
"We have a whole generation of crocs that don’t fear humans and that is a dangerous predicament," Mr Knuth said.
"Crocodiles are in higher, colder fresh water streams where they have never been before.
"They are adapting to these conditions because of the overpopulation."
Queensland legislation passed late on Tuesday expanded its crocodile management plan in a bid to protect communities and make it easier to remove the giant reptiles, preventing potential attacks.
The Queensland Crocodile Management Plan was developed in consultation with regional communities in the north and bolsters removal zones in areas including Ingham, Mulgrave and Mareeba.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service patrols will be increased in high-risk areas to prioritise public safety.
"This new plan streamlines the zones and introduces a reportable removal zone," Environment Minister Andrew Powell told parliament.
"If a crocodile turns up in a water body outside its typical habitat, we will target it for removal.
"Far too often, we hear reports of a croc turning up somewhere where it shouldn't - this plan ensures community safety in those areas."
Wildlife officers will remove any crocodile found in the Tyto Wetlands at Ingham, the Barron River and the Southedge Dam, near Mareeba under the revamped plan.
Predators larger than two metres displaying dangerous behaviour will be removed from three high-use waterholes on the Mulgrave River.
The management plan will be reviewed every five years to ensure communities remain protected.
“We’re delivering a commonsense plan which restores community safety as the priority,” Mr Powell said.
“More patrols and expansion of removal areas will prioritise safety and strike the balance needed for crocodile management in Queensland.”
