The Department of Tourism and Culture’s Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (PWCNT) have advised that Manton Dam will open for in-water activities at first light on Saturday 13 May.

PWCNT Darwin/Urban Parks District Manager, Nigel Weston said the decision was made following comprehensive crocodile surveys of the area.

“Rangers completed five consecutive nights of spotlight surveying and have not sighted any saltwater crocodiles and none have been trapped since February, so the decision has been made to open Manton Dam for in-water activities like water skiing and wakeboarding, but swimming from the shoreline is still not advised,” said Mr Weston.

“Public safety is our number one priority and we thank the community for understanding why we have to close the Dam for these activities through-out the wet season.”

Mr Weston added, “We will still continue to conduct surveys of the area, including aerial surveys, due to high water levels experienced this year, and we ask everyone to Be Crocwise and urge the public to report any suspected sightings.”

In February of this year, a 1.7 metre male saltwater crocodile was trapped at Manton Dam at the southernmost end of the reservoir, which is the area closest to Darwin River.

The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the NT urges the public to BE CROCWISE and remember that croc danger is real, so don’t risk your life. The Northern Territory Be Crocwise strategy can be viewed online at www.becrocwise.nt.gov.au.

For up-to-date information regarding access to parks and reserves administered by the Parks and Wildlife Commission visit http://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves.

To report saltwater crocodile sightings in the Darwin region phone 0419 822 859 or in the Katherine region phone 0407 958 405.