Minns government and council pass the buck on Sydney Harbour shark protection

Safe swimming areas protecting swimmers from sharks are not being installed around Sydney Harbour due to water quality concerns.

Extra prevention measures protecting swimmers from sharks will not be installed around Sydney Harbour despite Monday’s brutal bull shark attack with the Minns government and local council passing the buck over who is responsible.

This comes as locals call for a public enclosed swimming area to be created at Elizabeth Bay where a woman was mauled by a shark while swimming in the harbour.

Prevention measures such as shark nets and smart drumlines are currently not used within Sydney Harbour, although such technology is used along coastal beaches.

Under current rules it is the responsibility of local councils to set up safe swimming areas along the harbour.

A spokesperson for the Premier’s office said that while the government understood the need to have access to safe swimming spots during summer, it was up to local councils to create safe swimming areas within Sydney Harbour.

Lauren O’Neill was bitten on Monday by a shark while swimming off the private wharf, in an unnetted area, in Elizabeth Bay. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The Government will consider any further proposals from local councils to provide accessible and safe swimming zones across the state,” the spokesperson said.

“Where necessary the Government would consider increasing safety precautions in certain areas of the harbour.”

Yet plans to build an enclosed public pool near Beare Park at Elizabeth Bay were abandoned by Sydney mayor Clover Moore last year, due to concerns over water quality in the area.

The plans were put on hold after the City of Sydney council found Beare Park was significantly compromised by sewer overflow outlets.

The proposed site for the harbourside pool was near the vicinity of where Lauren O’Neill was attacked on Monday evening.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said it would not build enclosed harbourside pools until water quality improved, a process which would require “significant investment” from the Minns government to complete.

“The City has committed to installing infrastructure that facilitates and encourages Harbour swimming, including nets, once water quality reaches acceptable levels,” the spokesperson said.

City of Sydney councillor and Elizabeth Bay local Lyndon Gannon said the lack of action protecting harbour swimmers from sharks was not good enough. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Yet City of Sydney councillor and Elizabeth Bay local Lyndon Gannon said the lack of action protecting harbour swimmers from sharks was not good enough.

He said many local families, including children, still swim in the area and need to be protected.

“Providing safe harbour baths should be a priority for the city — all residents should be safe in the water and nets are obviously needed.”

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty urged swimmers to avoid swimming at dawn and dusk as well as in waters with known effluents or sewage, such as those at Elizabeth Bay.

“Research has also shown that bull sharks are especially numerous when water temperature is around 22°C, which is close to the average water temperature across Sydney at the moment,” she said.
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Originally published as Minns government and council pass the buck on Sydney Harbour shark protection