Police launch investigation after missing man's body found in Townsville bushland

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Flanders says police are open to "all possibilities" about how the Townsville man died. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)

North Queensland detectives have launched an appeal for public information after the body of a missing man was discovered in bushland on the outskirts of Townsville. 

The 32-year-old Aitkenvale man was last seen in early April and reported missing by his family on Tuesday.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Flanders said officers found his body the following afternoon near Racecourse Road in Cluden and declared a crime scene.

"Police were conducting a land search and rescue as part of trying to locate the missing person in the relevant areas, and it was actually police who located the body," he said.

"The examination of the scene and examination of the body would suggest that he's been in that location for quite some time."

An autopsy will be carried out on Saturday as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

Police are appealing for anyone who has seen a children's-sized orange and yellow KTM 50cc motorbike to come forward. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Flanders said the man was last seen riding a child-sized orange and yellow KTM 50cc motorbike that belonged to a relative.

"We're very keen to locate that bike and make inquiries [with] anyone who may be in possession of it to assist with the investigation … surrounding the last movements of the deceased," he said.

Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage of the Southern Port Access Road in early April to come forward.

Police are seeking dashcam footage of the Southern Port Access Road. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)

Acting Senior Sergeant Flanders said police were "open to all possibilities" about how the man died.

"We're not saying the matter is suspicious, but the nature of the investigation and the length of time between when he was last sighted puts us quite a bit behind as part of the investigation," he said.

"We don't want to risk being any further behind."

The man's body was found in scrub in the Townsville suburb of Cluden. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)

He said police had been in close contact with the man's relatives throughout the investigation.

"The family are very distraught and grieving the loss of a loved one — someone's son, brother," he said.

"We're urging anyone with relevant information to come forward, no matter how small."

Editor's note 3/5/2023: Police have confirmed the motorcycle was found on Saturday, April 29. No charges have been laid. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner to determine the nature and circumstances of the man's death.