Shark nets could be installed along north coast beaches as early as Christmas, but not before local communities have had the opportunity to have their say on the proposal.
Ballina’s mayor David Wright has told Echonetdaily that the NSW Department of Primary Industries had given an assurance that information sessions would be held prior to any nets being installed, and a survey conducted.
‘They made it clear they want people to be fully informed,’ Cr Wright said.
Cr Wright and others met with the heads of the Department yesterday to discuss the first steps in the development of a six month trial of shark meshing nets on the north coast.
Byron Shire Council has already indicated it will not support nets while Richmond Valley Council has indicated that it will. Groups including Australian Seabird Rescue and Dolphin Research Australia Inc have spoken out against nets, as has Ballina MP Tamara Smith.
Cr Wright said Ballina council did not have an official position as yet, and would wait for a briefing from the DPI at next week’s meeting, to be held on Thursday.
Yesterday’s meeting of the North Coast Shark Management Strategy Stakeholder Group in Ballina heard that nets could be installed as a ‘complementary measure’ to existing shark mitigation measures, which include SMART drumlines, aerial surveillance, drones and VR4G listening stations.
‘The NSW Government is committed to trialling new technologies, in order to keep beachgoers safe. Engagement and consultation with the local community will underscore the government’s approach,’ a DPI spokesperson said.
‘Other trials currently in place, such as SMART drumlines and aerial surveillance have produced exceptional outcomes. To date there have been 41 great white and five bull sharks tagged on SMART drumlines.
‘Community engagement and consultation on the proposed trial will continue over the coming weeks to inform the local community on the process and most importantly, to hear their views.’
Cr Wright said yesterday’s meeting heard that if nets were installed there would be safeguards to limit the possibility of other marine life being captured and killed.
‘Each net has three dolphin pingers so dolphins know that they are there and the nets also have two whale alarms,’ he said.
‘The nets are only 150 metres long so they’re not meant to fully net a beach and they (DPI) still believe that drones and other measures will be the answer to surveillance in the long run.’
He said in Sydney nets are checked every day although it was possible that nets on the north coast could be checked every day to limit by-catch.
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