Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch and Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart have slammed a State Government decision to reintroduce shark nets at Central Coast beaches this Summer despite strong community opposition.
The Government announced this week it will continue the Shark Management Program in its current form for the coming Summer swimming season.
This includes installing shark nets at 51 beaches across eight local government areas, including the Central Coast.
It also includes SMART drumlines, tagged shark listening stations and surveillance drone patrols.
A spokesperson said continuing the full suite of measures for the 2023-24 season would help in gathering further data to make better informed decisions about possible changes for the following (2024-25) season.
“The shark meshing program is actively managed to minimise the impact on marine animals while protecting swimmers at some of NSW’s most popular beaches,” the spokesperson said.
“The safety of beachgoers is the Government’s number one priority.”
The Central Coast LGA has 32 SMART drumlines, three tagged shark listening stations and drone patrols are conducted at North Entrance, Avoca and Ocean Beach during the Spring, Summer and Autumn school holidays.
Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said the government would continue to work with coastal councils and their communities to “ensure that local preferences are balanced against effective, evidence-based shark mitigation for beachgoers”.
But Crouch said it was appalling that the nets would once again be deployed on the Central Coast, with animal welfare and environmental groups united in their opposition.
They say the nets are ineffective, with varied marine life caught and often killed in the nets.
“It’s absolutely appalling that the Minns Government will introduce shark nets across the coastline of New South Wales, including the Central Coast,” Crouch said.
He said the Shark Meshing Annual Performance Report 2022/23 prepared by the Department of Primary Industries proved that shark nets are an ineffective shark mitigation strategy.
Although the Central Coast LGA has multiple drumlines, Crouch said a request by Central Coast Council for three more at Killcare, Lakes and Ocean Beaches had been totally ignored by the Government.
He called on Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch and Member for Wyong David Harris to provide answers as to why the requests had been ignored.
At the Council meeting on August 22, Administrator Rik Hart said reintroducing shark nets this year was “not the right decision”.
“We have made it very clear we are opposed to shark nets and it is surprising we are still waiting for the State Government to act,” he said.
“Council does not support shark nets and urges the Government to consider alternatives.
“We will continue to work with the Government to ensure the ongoing safety of residents but it is time for the Government to sit down with local councils to discuss transition away from shark nets.”
Terry Collins
Two of my grandchildren are volunteer life savers. I prefer that they are protected from sharks whilst saving someone.
Rik Hart should be A” political Let him voice his opinions as every other private citizen does Not use his office as a soapbox Also I love the way he refers to council as WE He is the council singular By the way I dont care one way or another about shark nets but they are there for a reason