NSW councils would push to scrap shark nets in proposed Minns government consultations
A majority of coastal councils will push to scrap shark nets along iconic beaches when in consultations with the Minns government around the future of the shark deterrence program.
NSW
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Exclusive: A majority of coastal councils will push to have shark nets removed entirely from their beaches when they are brought into consultations with the Minns government.
It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that shark nets will be taken down one month earlier this summer, with the NSW government planning to bring coastal councils into the decision-making process to give them more power over shark mitigation in their areas.
Shark nets are placed at 51 beaches across eight LGAs in the state from Newcastle to Wollongong for eight months of the year.
Of these councils, only the Sutherland Shire – which hosts Cronulla, Wanda and Elouera beaches – indicated it wished to keep the nets in place.
Randwick and Newcastle councils said they didn’t have an official position due in part to infighting within council over whether the nets should stay, but indicated they wished to see more evidence of the effectiveness of other technologies.
Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce said while he welcomed greater consultation with the NSW government, he would advocate for the nets to stay in place as he said they kept people safe.
“What we don’t want to see is any greater risk posed to swimmers and surfers due to any changes that are based on ideology, rather than saving lives,” he said.
“Our primary focus is always going to be on keeping our community safe from the threat of shark attack and we don’t make any apology for this.”
Should councils be given the power to determine whether nets were installed, some of the state’s most iconic beaches would go unnetted, with swimmers instead protected by a mix of SMART drumlines and drones.
Northern Beaches Council, which has nets at 12 beaches including at Narrabeen, South Curl Curl, Dee Why and Freshwater, said it would strongly advocate for the immediate removal of shark nets.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the council was thrilled to be brought into the decision-making process.
“It’s a start,” she said. “We are aware the nets catch predominantly non-target species and we already have in place drumlines and drones which have been very effective.”
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said she would also push for shark nets to be removed from the local beaches, including at Bondi. “I welcome this first step but in any consultations I’d be looking for a partnership to work on 21st century mitigation measures that protects marine life and swimmers,” she said. “There is no place for shark nets.”
Premier Chris Minns said he hadn’t yet made a decision about rolling out nets for next summer, but planned to work with councils on the issue.
“We want to work with councils as well as keeping the public safe,” he said. “I’ve got to be comfortable that (alternative) technology is good enough to be brought in at scale.”
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