One shark net to go – but which one yet to be decided

Which Central Coast shark net will go?

That’s a decision Central Coast Council has flicked back to the State Government to make.

Council has agreed to participate in the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) trial to remove shark nets from one Central Coast beach – but it wants more.

It has called on the NSW Government to remove shark nets from all beaches and allocate resources to increase technology measures including additional drones, drumlines and listening stations to enhance public safety, while protecting marine life.

Humane World for Animals marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck addressed the public forum held before the Council meeting on August 26, urging Council to agree to the trial.

He was asked by Councillor Kyle MacGregor which beach should be chosen.

Clebeck said that based on environmental impact and threatened species impacts alone, both Umina Beach and Lakes Beach nets had the highest impact.

After the decision Clebeck congratulated Council.

“Shark nets are like deploying a ping pong net on a football pitch,” Chlebeck said.

“At only 150m in length and unfurled on beaches that are often several kilometres long, shark nets don’t offer swimmer protection—they simply entangle our treasured whales, dolphins and turtles and, in doing so, ring a dinner bell for sharks to come nearer to shore”. 

Council has long supported the removal of shark nets from Central Coast beaches, preferring the new technology.  

Council will ask the DPI to make an informed decision on which Central Coast beach is to be in the trial, noting the selection should be based on the DPI reviewing the current shark management program in place across the region.

It wants the new technologies available and fully operational before any shark nets are removed and a report back at the end of the trial, noting the effectiveness and any areas of improvement.

Councillor Jared Wright said he had spoken to residents in suburbs like Terrigal, Avoca Beach and Copacabana in recent weeks and there was a mood for change in favour of more modern and innovative solutions such as the smart drumlines, shark listening devices and drones that better keep beachgoers and marine life safe.

“It is my expectation that the NSW Government will assist in making sure that these technologies are available to our surf life savers and that a combination of them will be used to mitigate risk,” he said after the meeting.

“That is certainly the expectation of our community as well, given everybody wants to feel safe and protected in the water.”

The Central Coast has an 80km coastline with 41 beaches of which 15 are patrolled and 11 have shark nets installed each beach season.