Latest news with #DETSI
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Drivers warned as tragic scene on Aussie roadside prompts calls for rule change
A driver's devastating ordeal on a quiet rural road has prompted an outcry from Aussies — with some calling for major change. Queensland's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) confirmed to Yahoo News that a cassowary was hit by a car near Mission Beach on Thursday, with the sad scene prompting some to call for a drastic reduction in speed limits on roads that cut through the bird's natural habitat — and for drivers to pay more attention to native animals. The area in Far North Queenslad is famous for its cassowary population, with many flocking from around the world to see the giant flightless birds which are adored and feared in equal measure. Local residents regularly share excited tales of the elusuive creatures exploring their backyards, making the loss a huge blow to the community. Video shared by Mission Beach Wildcare showed the male cassowary, which "ran straight out in front of a car," lying under a blanket on the side of Tully Mission Beach Rd. The driver who hit the bird immediately called for assistance after the tragic accident. The impact of the car alone did not kill the bird, but sadly the severity of the injuries it sustained caused it to be "humanely euthanised", the department told Yahoo. Sadly, the cassowary was accompanied by two juvenile birds, who must now fend for themselves. "A member of the public reported the incident and remained with the bird until the department could arrange for a veterinarian to attend the scene and assess its condition," A DETSI spokesperson told Yahoo News. "Two juvenile cassowaries that were with their father at the time of the incident were unharmed. "Following a thorough assessment, the veterinarian determined that the juveniles were of sufficient age and stage of development to be left in the wild, rather than having to be taken into care." DETSI's policy is to avoid removing wild animals from their natural habitat unless "absolutely necessary". Yahoo Understands that officers will continue monitoring the young birds to make sure they are coping on their own. "New wildlife crossing signage has also been installed in the area to alert motorists to the presence of cassowaries along Tully Mission Beach Road and help prevent further incidents," the department said. A spokesperson for Mission Beach Wildcare explained that many of the locals know the birds well, making it an especially tough blow. The spokesperson pleaded with drivers to "please be aware of our wildlife" as traffic flow increases with the tourist season kicking in, fearing this is the first of many "more casualties on the horizon". Speed limits along the road which connects the town of Tully to Mission Beach, reach as high as 100kph in some parts, prompting calls from some local residents to drastically alter rules around speed in the region. "Drivers just need to slow down and watch out for wildlife," one local resident said, with others echoing this call. Earlier this year, NRMA released details of its Wildlife Collision Hotspots across Australia — with 12,100 claims related to cases of animals being hit by cars in 2024. The statistic makes the last 12 months the second worst in the past five years. Data revealed that the most common time for incidents to occur is in autumn and winter when days are shorter, cooler and nocturnal animals are more active. Worryingly, incidents jumped by 25 per cent between March and April last year. Sadly, there is another issue impacting cassowary populations. They are being fed by humans, causing them to cross roads "more frequently than necessary" for an easy meal. Authorities have repeatedly pleaded with tourists and residents to never feed or interact with the wild animals. The birds have been seen brazenly entering camper's tents, indicating that it has become habituated to receiving food from humans. In another incident, wild footage emerged of a cassowary chasing after a woman with a McDonald's Big Mac, renewing the pleas to steer clear of the world's most dangerous animal. DETSI said that visitors and residents can help reserve wild populations of cassowaries in the following ways: Never approach cassowaries. Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them. Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal and can be dangerous for the birds and for humans. Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids. Always slow down when driving in cassowary territory. Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road. Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash. Cassowary sightings in north Queensland should be reported to QPWS by calling 1300 130 372. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fishing and camping trip takes sad turn with 50kg find under sand: 'We couldn't leave it'
A man's fishing and camping trip took an ugly turn after he spotted something unexpected hidden under the sand. Reuben Jacob was visiting a once pristine beach north of Noosa this week, far away from the crowds the holiday town often attracts. At first, it appeared he was just looking at a small piece of clear plastic, but when he tried to pick it up he discovered it was buried deep. 'It was all under the sand. We had to dig it up, because we couldn't go past it and leave it there,' he told Yahoo News. Reuben estimates the sandy plastic weighed upwards of 50kg, making it tough to get off the beach in one piece. 'It was heavy with the sand inside it, we couldn't get the sand out without tearing it into two bundles,' he said. The plastic was likely used in wrapping and had fallen off a ship, then washed onto the sand. But it wasn't the only piece of plastic on the beach. Related: 🏝️ Calls for rule change as Aussie beach problem spirals out of control From large discarded bottles to tiny fragments, there was rubbish everywhere. He collected what he could and piled it into his 4WD, but he couldn't take it all. He's urging anyone driving through Noosa North Shore beach, about 8km north of Teewah, to stop and pick up some of the rubbish. 'It was sad and disappointing. I've been going up this beach for 20 years, and it never used to be like that. It used to be pristine, but it's not now,' he said. 'A lot of the rubbish would be from campers, but also what washes up adds to it. When I've been up before, the bins have been overflowing, so maybe they could increase collection, or even employ someone with a ute to clean the beach.' Details of Reuben's story struck a cord online, with pictures of the plastic attracting close to 1,000 reactions. "It disgusts me seeing irresponsible people leaving rubbish on the beach, especially fishing tackle and wires," one person wrote. "Such a precious area. I have camped my whole life and was always taught to leave nothing behind except footprints," another said. While some called for Noosa Shire Council to clean up the area, it said the part of the beach that was covered in rubbish is managed by the state government. 😔 Search for answers as town buried after mountainside collapses ⛏️ Fears over ancient sites under threat from controversial industry plan 🐗 Bold new national park plan to hunt invasive species Queensland's Department of Environment (DETSI) told Yahoo the amount of rubbish was 'disappointing' and the problem had 'noticeably increased' in the wake of Cyclone Alfred which made landfall in March, with more debris washing up. DETSI said it has led several mass clean-ups around the area, and that it plans to continue to tackle the issue. 'We encourage people to put their rubbish in the bin, or take rubbish with them when leaving, to help us keep our beaches clean for the enjoyment of all,' it said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie driver slapped with $2,580 fine after trying to save $20 with dodgy act
Drivers who sneakily dump their rubbish on Australian roadsides can be hard to catch. But Queensland authorities have used video evidence to catch a man entering a conservation area and leaving behind a trailer full of household waste. If he'd got away with it, the man would have saved $20.90 in fees at Townsville's tip. But instead, he'll have to pay a fine of $2,580 for carrying out the illegal act. The investigation was sparked by the discovery of empty boxes, an old air conditioner, a broken washing basket, and other junk the man no longer wanted. Determined to find out who was responsible, they scanned through footage taken by remote cameras. Looking back to March 16, they spotted a ute carrying a pile of rubbish driving into the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park. The same vehicle was then seen leaving the park with an empty tray. Related: 😡 Roadside find reveals 'disgusting' trend sweeping across Australia Jackie McKeay, the executive director of waste enforcement at DETSI, revealed the man admitted responsibility and then returned to clean up his mess. Not only is dumped rubbish unsightly, it's also a pollution and fire risk. 'This fine is a reminder to Queenslanders that our remote cameras can be anywhere at any time,' McKeay said. 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal dumping, and we investigate every report we receive.' 🏝️ Reason Aussies will no longer be able to holiday at popular islands 😳 Big W quietly reintroduces controversial $122 Aussie product 💪 'Brutal' conditions sees a thousand tradies strike at remote camp If you spot someone dumping rubbish in Queensland and want to dob them in, you can do so here. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Roadside find reveals 'disgusting' trend sweeping across Australia: 'A massive issue'
Materials tossed onto the side of the road near a burnt-out patch of grass and sand highlight the worsening trend of copper theft in Australia, with a man who has stumbled upon the "congealed mess" at several sites telling Yahoo News the crime is sprouting new, worrisome behaviour. Dave Dudley runs Tidy Up Townsville, a group of over 4,000 members who gather regularly to clean up local dump sites around the north Queensland city. He was dirt biking on Monday morning when he found pieces of charred plastic as well as tyres, bricks and discarded kitchen items along Port Access Road, an area not far from the CBD. Dave claims the area showed clear signs of what he calls "copper cooking" — the act of pouring petrol onto copper to strip off any unwanted materials from the metal, such as plastic or insulation, before it is sold. It's a well-known method of stripping copper, with two males recently arrested in Alice Springs after they were suspected of burning copper cable in bushland. Many parts of the country have been grappling with copper theft in recent years, with people stealing it from homes and building sites and selling it to scrap metal dealers who melt and reshape it for reuse, and Townsville is no different. "Either they go out there and strip it manually, like, run a knife down it to take all the plastic off, or the other easier method is to just sit it in a pile on the ground, and then pour a bit of petrol over it and torch it," he told Yahoo News. "It's burnt, but it's still resaleable." Dave said the site was "pretty disgusting" and the mess "was spread several metres" along the road. Yahoo News has reached out to Townsville Council for comment. The behaviour was condemned by the state's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) who confirmed to Yahoo News officers are aware of it occurring recently. The spokesperson also warned that any type of dumping on public land was not permitted and offenders could face fines of over $12,000 for dumping large amounts of waste. "Dumping waste can potentially harm native wildlife and impact nearby soil and water, while also diminishing the experience of park goers," the DETSI spokesperson sad. "We are dedicated to preserving our protected areas in Townsville from dangerous environmental consequences." As a Townsville local, Dave said his concern continues to rise over this type of behaviour and in a bid to help, he started logging locations in the city where "copper cooking" has been reported. He started a Facebook page and said locals continue to reach out to him, with 52 locations now logged since the start of the year. "It's a massive issue in Townsville," he said. "What's left is just an oily, congealed mess that's getting washed into the waterways and causing pollution." Yahoo News has sought comment from Queensland Police on the reports of copper cooking. 🚗 Driver's dodgy number plate move leads to massive find inside car 😲 Grim 300kg find in Aussie river exposes growing nationwide crisis 📸 Photo exposes illegal act 'surging' across Australia According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, the annual cost of metal theft is valued at well over $100 million, and in Queensland the crime has tripled since 2020. Copper is commonly stolen from vacant homes, construction sites and road infrastructure such as piping and light poles. Not only is it costly and inconvenient to energy providers and new homeowners, but it's also unsafe with tradies taking the brunt of the issue as criminals wander onto worksites after hours. CCTV footage of two alleged criminals dressed as tradies attempting to steal materials was captured at an Energex site in Queensland. Another Gold Coast tradie called out the behaviour of criminals who stole water meters from his site last year, saying online he "hopes your $20 in scrap copper was worth it because this is going to be a nightmare to fix, so, cheers for that." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie man 'remorseful' after illegal find in fish tank leads to $2,400 fine
A 'remorseful' Australian man has been hit with a $2,400 fine after state authorities discovered he was keeping an illegal pet in his fish tank. Rather than gold fish, tetras, or even more exotic blue discus, he'd opted for a native crocodile. And it wasn't the smaller, less dangerous freshwater variety. Hidden away in his suburban home was a juvenile saltwater crocodile, the type that can grow up to six metres long in the wild. On Tuesday, Queensland's department of environment (DETSI) announced the crocodile had been seized, following a joint operation with police. The man's home in Manoora, west of Cairns, was searched on May 16, following a tip-off by a member of the public. Pictures show the little predator with its head above the water, in a tank lined with plastic plants, rocks and sticks. While permits are available in the Northern Territory to keep crocodiles, in Queensland they can't be kept as pets. Numbers of the reptiles still remain worryingly low, and the species is listed as vulnerable to extinction in that state. Senior conservation officer Daniel Guymer said the crocodile is believed to have been caught in the wild, and was still a juvenile at the time of seizure. Although it's no longer in a tank, sadly it will never experience freedom again. 'The man admitted that he had broken the law by taking the crocodile from the wild and although he was remorseful, we take a zero-tolerance approach to the unlawful possession of wildlife,' Guymer said. 'We have examined the crocodile and although it appears healthy, it cannot be released back into the wild as it may have been exposed to disease. It is destined for a life at a farm or zoo, or at an educational facility.' 🔊 'Iconic' sound mysteriously vanishes from suburbs 👟 Adidas halts use of wild kangaroo skins in shoes 🏝️ Hotel attraction shut down after 'living nightmare' in pool exposed Although the maximum court-ordered penalty for unlawfully keeping a saltwater crocodile is over $36,000 the man, in his 20s, was given a penalty infringement notice by authorities of $2,419 instead. DETSI is urging anyone with information about crocodiles being illegally kept as pets to contact them on 1300 130 372. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
