Port Douglas dingoes behaving aggressively and prowling resorts will be trapped and shot, with Douglas Shire Council doubling down on its management of the issue having received more than 30 formal complaints about the animals.

Resorts and residents have made complaints to the council over dingoes stalking people, attacking pets and scavenging for food scraps.

At Tuesday’s Douglas Shire Council meeting, a report into the management of dingoes was tabled and discussed as it considered a petition by Rosie Wang, Let Sleeping Dingoes Live.

The petition is among moves at a local and regional level from residents and conservationists to protect the dingoes, reported on extensively by Newsport late last year when two bold young animals made the Port Douglas sports precinct their home, encouraged by illegal free campers who were feeding them and allowing interaction with domestic dogs.

DEATH ROW DINGOES

Ms Wang last year launched a petition, Let Sleeping Dingoes Live, in a bid to change management practices - to relocate dingoes - and boost education.

In a report to council on the matter, the two dingoes were said to be “displaying increasingly bold and aggressive behaviour’’.

“Such behaviours pose a serious public safety risk and indicate the animals have become habituated to human presence, often due to feeding,’’ the report says.

“Failure to intervene when dingoes exhibit threatening or aggressive behaviour exposes residents and visitors to potential injury.”

Council officers recommended compliance continues under its endorsed Biosecurity Management Plan, which lists shooting as a more “optimal” control method than trapping and baiting.

And Councillors have made it clear they hold serious concerns about dingo attacks, Councillor Roy Zammataro leading the charge.

“When you look at the dingoes, they are a natural scavenger and they are opportunistic predators,’’ he said.

“In this report, the very fact the safety advisory people advise to stay close to small children and never leave them unsupervised is reason enough to continue trapping.

“With the introduction of the splash park, there will be more children in Port Douglas. A dingo attack can leave an adult badly injured but for a child, the consequences could be devastating.

“If there’s a chance that humans, particularly children, could be mauled then these animals should be trapped.’’

Cr Zammataro said the Douglas Shire Council local laws already prohibit domestic dogs roaming freely due to the risk of aggression and dingoes, as apex predators present an even greater threat.

“The petition states Let Sleeping Dingoes Live… I agree they should live but not in a populated urban area,’’ he said.

“Of the 1161 petition only 144 came from Douglas Shire residents.’’

Councillor Damian Meadows moved the motion to dismiss the petition and maintain the management plan unchanged.

“I understand the petition and people’s emotional connection to it, they are beautiful animals but there’s overarching legislation that poses requirements on council and we must adhere to that,’’ Councillor Meadows said.

“We can’t deviate from that and go it alone. I would certainly love to see some alternatives provided for the animals but first and foremost we must comply with the legislation.’’

Councillor Michael Rees said he had been “bailed up” by the dingoes himself.

“I was thinking more ‘Let morning runners live’ because I have been bailed up twice by two dingoes on my morning run.

“I agree with Councillor Zammataro’s sentiment that I can sort of defend myself against two dingoes but maybe not a child.

“We have a Biosecurity Act and we have to comply with it.’’