Camera Traps – September 2026 accrued 89-cassowaries, 22-dingoes and 63-feral pigs. Against the cumulative monthly average, cassowary numbers fell by 12%, dingo numbers halved and feral-pig numbers also dropped by 65%. Against September 2025, cassowary virtually tripled, dingo numbers collapsed by 86% and feral-pig sightings also fell by 19%.
Image highlights from Camera Traps – September 2026
Keeping up with the cassowaries …
Taiga, Jupiter, Neptune & Pluto
Manu & introducing Arnfried
Lady Delilah!
Luna
Crinkle-Cut, Adam & Sally
Scratch
Ila (pronounced Eel-ah)
Alex
Daintree Rainforest Dingoes
Commercial Activity Permit Fees
As of 18th October 2026, the QLD Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) requires all patrons of the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre (MGCC) (except local residents) to pay an additional $2.70 to access the Mossman Gorge section of the Daintree National Park, promising to hand the full amount of revenue raised, which could amount to as much as $1 million a year, to native title holders Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.
As this exceptional fee-increase falls under clause 3.4 of the Road Use Agreement, Councillors of the Douglas Shire Council (DSC) were requested at the Ordinary Council (DSC) meeting held on Tuesday 29th September 2026, to endorse the recommendations of ITEM 7.5 – Voyages Tourism Fee Proposal and increase the fee by $2.70 for all free independent travelers who board the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre Bus Service, in accordance with Commercial Activity Permit Fee requirements.
Ensuing debate ranged between anger and reluctant acquiescence, with the most strongly expressed views criticising the fee-increase as a State Government cash grab or back-handed tourism tax at the entrance to the most visited Indigenous centre in the country and yet another impost on local tourism that is likely to have undesirable ramifications for the Shire. Charging for a family visiting the gorge, which is already considered expensive enough, without any discernible benefit to the ratepayers of this Shire and the money going to one organisation in particular, provides scant incentive for endorsement.
However, the office of the Minister for DETSI has denied that it is a tourism tax or a new fee, explaining that since 1994, any commercial operation that either advertises or promotes the use of a Protected Area or is conducted for gain in or over a Protected Area, must pay a usage fee per customer (5-years or older) for every day they are inside the Protected Area boundaries, at the standard rate of $2.70 per person for activity under 3-hours.
As the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre (MGCC) officially opened on 7th August 2012, 18-years after commercial activity fees were legislatively prescribed, it appears that DETSI has provided Voyages Tourism Australia with a 12-year Commercial Activity Fee waiver, particularly as it was announced 10-years after opening, that 2.7-million visitors had been welcomed, whilst the statutory requirement to pay commercial activity fees were not enforced until Sunday 18th October 2026.
In statutory conformity, both DSC and the operator of the Daintree Ferry derive commercial gain by charging exorbitant fees for travellers to cross the Daintree River, whilst advertising and promoting the use of facilities within the Daintree National Park Protected Area. DSC advertises on its website that Daintree National Park has free, self-guided boardwalks that are easy to fit into a day of exploring. Look out for Jindalba near Cow Bay, Marrdja at Oliver Creek and Dubuji at Cape Tribulation, whereas the Daintree Ferry’s website promotes that the Daintree Rainforest has a vast network of rainforest boardwalks to explore. including the popular Jindalba boardwalk. Don’t miss the lookout at Walu Wugirriga (Mount Alexandra). A short walk from the carpark brings you to this high point, with stunning views over the rainforest, the Daintree River and surrounding coastline.
Undeniably aligning with the statutory definition of commercial activity, will both operators be soon hit with the same requirement to pay a usage fee to DETSI per customer (5-years or older) for every day they are inside the Protected Area boundaries, at the standard rate of $2.70 per person for activity under 3-hours and will DETSI also hand this same revenue to the native title holders Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation?
Daintree Rainforest Foundation Ltd has been registered by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and successfully entered onto the Register of Environmental Organisations. Donations made to the Daintree Rainforest Fund support the Daintree Rainforest community custodianship and are eligible for a tax deduction under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.