Fearful far north Queensland councils say tragedy is "entirely foreseeable" unless the state government does more to curb increasing numbers of crocodiles in populated areas.
The Cassowary Coast, Mareeba and Douglas shire councils sent letters to Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles in the past month requesting the removal of some reptiles and changes to its new Crocodile Management Plan.
Douglas Shire Council mayor Julia Leu said residents felt "under threat and concerned about the unprecedented number of crocodile sightings" at previously popular beaches and boat ramps.
"It is understood that emergency services, when asked to undertake rescues, will now consider the safety of their officers in river systems where crocodiles are known to be present," she said in a letter dated March 28.
Ms Leu called on the Labor government to reclassify some beaches, creeks and lakes in the region to zones where the risk of crocodiles was "moderate to high".
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council has also requested it be rezoned from Category C to B, meaning the likely interaction of humans and crocodiles was high.
Cassowary Coast chief executive officer James Gott listed a series of "increased action or new initiatives" the council considered necessary to improve residents' safety from crocodiles.
It included the need to track and count the number of reptiles in the Johnstone River region and "implement fully" the Management Plan, released on March 14.
Mr Gott said the community had become fearful following increased sightings of "several and large animals moving in populated areas".
"Recent incidents have reinforced what would appear to be the overwhelming view of the public that real danger is associated with the use of aquatic and marine facilities and that tragedy is entirely foreseeable," he said.
Mareeba Shire Council mayor Tom Gilmore also wanted crocodiles removed from nearby waterways, which were not a "natural habitat" for them.
Opposition frontbencher Scott Emerson said the government's policy was too reactive and "not good enough" for far north residents.
But Dr Miles rejected claims its Crocodile Management Plan didn't go far enough.
"This is the strongest crocodile management plan Queensland's ever had and the proof of that is in the sheer number of crocodiles being removed," he said on Tuesday.
Katter's Australian Party has threatened to block the upcoming state budget unless the government supports its proposed crocodile culling and safari legislation.
