Media releases

Media releases from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

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    March 2024

    15 Mar 2024

    Crocodile genetics study to inform management

    The results of a long-range genetic study of Queensland’s estuarine crocodiles have shown they can be described broadly as six populations living within 12 distinct bioregions.

    15 Mar 2024

    Tourist bitten by wongari on K’gari

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is attempting to identify a dingo (wongari) on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) that bit a German tourist on 13 March 2024.

    15 Mar 2024

    Compliance blitz, court case result in almost $500K in fines for illegal waste stockpiling

    The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, as Queensland’s environmental regulator, is putting Queensland waste operators on notice after a prosecution of an unlicensed operator, and a compliance blitz on metal recyclers resulted in more than $400,000 worth of fines for carrying out unlawful activities that risk the safety of the community and the environment.

    13 Mar 2024

    Collar to track wongari entering fenced area

    Rangers have fitted a GPS tracking collar to a dingo (wongari) displaying heightened risk activity and entering a fenced area on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island).

    13 Mar 2024

    Asbestos detected at Emu Park transfer station and NuGrow Rockhampton

    Laboratory results have confirmed asbestos has been detected in a mulch stockpile at Livingstone Shire Council’s Emu Park transfer station.

    7 Mar 2024

    $145,000 penalty for destroying thousands of protected mangroves near Townsville

    A Townsville man has been ordered to pay close to $145,000 in relation to illegally clearing almost three football stadiums-worth of internationally-recognised wetlands in the Cape Cleveland section of Bowling Green Bay National Park.

    7 Mar 2024

    Coorooman Creek crocodile complacency continues

    Wildlife officers are warning that complacency in central Queensland croc country is very unsafe after witnessing disturbing behaviour from users of the Coorooman Creek boat ramp in Zilzie.

    7 Mar 2024

    Joint asbestos investigation update – 6 March 2024

    No further evidence of asbestos contamination has been found at NuGrow’s Swanbank facility after further testing as part of the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s (DESI) ongoing investigation.

    6 Mar 2024

    Hop to it! Secure your camping permit for Easter to avoid a fine

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is reminding Queenslanders to obtain their permits ahead of camping these April school holidays and Easter long weekend.

    6 Mar 2024

    Crocodiles observed downstream in Rollingstone Creek

    Wildlife officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) have confirmed the presence of three large crocodiles in Rollingstone Creek, north of Townsville which are well downstream of the swimming hole.

    4 Mar 2024

    Rollingstone Creek crocodile confirmed

    Wildlife officers have used photos and videos to confirm the presence of an estimated three-metre crocodile in the Rollingstone Creek swimming hole, north of Townsville.

    4 Mar 2024

    Smithsonian Fellowships now open

    The Queensland Government’s 2024 Smithsonian Fellowship Program is now open.

    2 Mar 2024

    Planned burn in partnership protects key environmental, power assets

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has partnered with Powerlink, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and neighbouring landholders to protect crucial habitat in D’Aguilar National Park through a broad-scale planned burn operation.

    1 Mar 2024

    Joint asbestos investigation update

    No further evidence of asbestos contamination has been found at the first 23 waste sites tested as part of the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation’s (DESI) ongoing investigation.

    February 2024

    27 Feb 2024

    Asbestos detected in compost at NuGrow Ipswich

    A small amount of asbestos has been detected in a compost stockpile at NuGrow Ipswich Pty Ltd’s site during a joint targeted inspection by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Asbestos Safety Unit of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ).

    26 Feb 2024

    Do not feed or interact with crocodiles

    Wildlife officers have issued a serious warning to the public that feeding crocodiles puts lives at risk, after alarming social media videos surfaced in the Rockhampton region.

    21 Feb 2024

    Tourists lost in remote area after Google Maps mishap

    Two German tourists are lucky to be alive after Google Maps directed them to enter Oyala Thumotang National Park (CYPAL) while they were attempting to travel from Cairns to Bamaga.

    Downloadable multimedia

    18 Feb 2024

    Tourists bitten by wongari on K’gari

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating two separate incidents on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) where two people on separate tours were injured by wongari (dingoes).

    14 Feb 2024

    Crocodile captured in the Mulgrave River

    A 2.3m crocodile has been captured in a trap in the Mulgrave River near the Ross and Locke recreation area, upstream of Gordonvale on 11 February 2024.

    9 Feb 2024

    QPWS team studies turtles, remove over 100kg of rubbish from crucial turtle nesting habitat

    Threatened Species officers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) have removed rubbish and large debri from foreshore on one of the world’s most important hawksbill turtle rookeries.

    8 Feb 2024

    Croc removed from property near Cardwell

    Wildlife officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) have removed a 2.5 metre crocodile from a private property near Cardwell in north Queensland.

    Downloadable multimedia

    7 Feb 2024

    Winchester South coal mine approved

    The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation has approved the environmental authority (EA) application for Whitehaven WS Pty Ltd’s Winchester South coal mine.

    6 Feb 2024

    Croc removed from Palm Creek - Ingham

    Wildlife Officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) have removed a small crocodile from Palm Creek at Garbutt Park in Ingham.

    Downloadable multimedia

    2 Feb 2024

    Decision reserved in NuGrow court action

    In December 2023, the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation filed a restraint order application in the Planning and Environment Court, seeking to halt odour-producing aspects of a Swanbank waste operator's activities to bring relief to the local community.

    2 Feb 2024

    28 protected birds released after being held at a Gympie residence

    Wildlife Officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) have rescued and released dozens of protected birds which were being kept illegally by a Gympie resident.

    1 Feb 2024

    Rangers join Wujal Wujal flood clean-up

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers have taken their specialist skills and equipment off-park to support the ongoing clean-up of Wujal Wujal following severe flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

    January 2024

    24 Jan 2024

    Park closures ahead of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has today temporarily closed mainland and island national parks and protected areas between Cardwell and Airlie Beach ahead of the expected impact of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily and associated weather conditions.

    23 Jan 2024

    Waste fire, Swanbank

    Compliance officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) are investigating the cause of a fire at the Nugrow composting facility in the early hours of yesterday morning (22 January 2024).

    23 Jan 2024

    Fined for Moreton Bay Marine Park fishing offences

    A commercial fisher was fined $8000 plus $250 costs on fishing-related charges in the Cleveland Magistrates Court last week.

    19 Jan 2024

    The great interstate platypus exchange

    The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) have exchanged platypuses to bolster the population and enhance public education for the species.

    16 Jan 2024

    Dingo euthanised on K’gari following dangerous incidents

    A dingo responsible for several serious incidents on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) has been humanely euthanised this afternoon (16 January 2024).

    15 Jan 2024

    Rangers respond to dingo bite at Hook Point, K’gari

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating an incident on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) after a man was bitten on the leg by a dingo at Hook Point earlier today (15 January 2024).

    13 Jan 2024

    Update – Serious dingo incident, Hook Point

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has identified the dingo that bit a young girl at Hook Point on K’gari yesterday (12 January 2024).

    12 Jan 2024

    Rangers responding after young girl bitten on K’gari

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating an incident on at Hook Point on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) today (12 January) during which a young girl was bitten multiple times by a dingo.

    12 Jan 2024

    Environmental Protection Order – Wood Mulching Industries

    The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) has ordered a Swanbank waste operator to take immediate action to better manage their green waste and compost stockpiles on their site, following a fire late last month.

    11 Jan 2024

    Waste levies waived for Scenic Rim Regional Council and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council

    The Queensland Government has waived waste levies for the Scenic Rim Regional Council in south-east Queensland and the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council in far north Queensland to support these communities as they recover from significant recent weather events.

    10 Jan 2024

    $30K in fines for green waste fire, Swanbank

    The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) has fined an Ipswich-based waste operator more than $30,000 for stockpiling green waste that led to a fire late last month.

    9 Jan 2024

    Croc removed from chook pen, Cape Hillsborough

    Wildlife Officers from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) have removed a one metre crocodile from a chicken coop at a home north of Mackay.

    8 Jan 2024

    Jane Creek crocodile investigation

    Wildlife Officers have conducted a thorough investigation following a report of a large crocodile leaping from the water and into a fisher’s tinnie in Jane Creek near Mackay on 31 December 2023.

    4 Jan 2024

    Rangers investigating after girl bitten on K’gari

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating a Code E incident on K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) that left a seven-year-old girl with puncture wounds to her thigh.

    2 Jan 2024

    Mackay crocodile investigation

    The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) is investigating after a large crocodile reportedly leapt from the water and into a tinnie while a person was fishing at Jane Creek near St Helen’s Beach, north of Mackay.

    Previous years

    Releases from previous years: