CQU Mackay staff briefly mistook Buildings Officer Steve Oberg for The Crocodile Hunter when he recently leapt into a campus pond armed with a rake.

Campus ‘Thorpedo’ Oberg donned a two-toned wetsuit, matching sneakers and an Akubra hat while clearing the murky pond of leaf litter as part of his annual ‘clean-up’.

In movements only associated with synchronised swimming, Oberg carefully crossed the pond to the beat of the local crickets.

Even the blistering midday sun wouldn’t deter Oberg from getting up close and personal with the dwindling aquatic pond population.

Ignoring instructions and laughter from the neighbouring Qld Centre for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence he completed the task in record time.

“She’s a little beauty this pond. It’s really rare to find one in such poor shape, but the drought has hit the campus hard,” he quips.

“Luckily there weren’t any ferocious little blighters in there because that wouldn’t have been too pretty for me to deal with.

“Crikey! I think I’ve done such a great job that all the wildlife will be in later this afternoon to check it out. You watch...word is sure to get around.

With CQU Mackay set amongst cane fields, Oberg also doubles as the campus snake handler.

ABOVE: CQU Buildings Officer Steve Oberg was caught up to his ears in work recently.

LEFT: It would take more than a ripple in the water to deter Steve Oberg from jumping at a chance to clean a CQU Mackay pond.