State Government ignores council pleas to ban shark nets off Hunter and Central Coast beaches

Lake Macquarie council has joined six other local governments to call for an end to shark nets off our beaches. But the State Government isn’t listening. Tell us what you think, take our poll.

The State Government has refused to budge on its controversial shark meshing program despite growing opposition by the council areas it says it is trying to protect.

Lake Macquarie City Council has joined six of the eight local governments, including Newcastle and Central Coast, covered by the program in publicly calling for an end to the outdated nets.

A critically endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks caught in the NSW Government shark nets off Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

They have argued improved technology, including smart drum lines and aerial surveillance as part of a record budget announced this week for shark management across NSW waters, has made the 74-year-old shark nets program redundant.

It follows Department of Primary Industries reports on the nets shows only 18 of the 164 animals caught in nets off Newcastle and Central Coast last year – or less than 11 per cent – were the targeted species of great white, tiger and bull sharks.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall this week spruiked the significant funding, but their offices refused to answer questions about the growing tide against the shark nets, instead palming off inquiries to the Department of Primary Industries.

Less than 11 per cent of catches in nets off Newcastle and Central Coast were targeted species, including great white sharks.

“Swimmers are safest when there is a combination of technologies and deterrents in place – including nets where appropriate,’’ a department spokesman said in a statement.

The decision, which saw the nets again hit waters off 10 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie beaches and a further 11 on the Central Coast on September 1, ignores results from a survey of affected councils regarding the use of the meshing.

A massive 4.6 metre great white shark netted off a Sydney beach.

Newcastle City Council was one of six local governments to call for an end to the program in April, with a 10-1 motion by councillors adopting the council’s recommendation that it “supports a modernisation of shark bite risk mitigation including the removal of shark nets in favour of increased drone surveillance, SMART drumlines, and trials of additional nonlethal measures’’.

Shark nets are no longer suitable as shark a bite risk mitigation measure due to their inability to protect ocean-users, the impact on marine wildlife and their resultant unpopularity,’’ the council said in the survey.

“Alternative measures can actually reduce the risk via detection (drone surveillance) and deterrence (personal shark deterrents, SMART drumlines, etc.) without the cost to marine wildlife.’’

Although no similar motion has been passed at Lake Macquarie City Council, a spokesman said the council supported the abolition of the netting program.

“While the council has not formally discussed the issue, staff have reviewed the available evidence presented by DPI, prioritising swimmer safety, and concluded that SMART drumlines are a more effective measure than traditional shark nets,’’ the spokesman said.

“Smart drumlines have been shown to intercept four times more target sharks than mesh nets.

“Drumlines also have a significant lower bycatch rates of non-target species.

“Council’s coastal zone management committee has supported this stance.’’

The nets are now in place off Stockton, Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar, Dixon Park, Merewether, Redhead, Blacksmiths, Caves, Catherine Hill Bay, Lakes, Soldiers, The Entrance, Shelley, Terrigal, North Avoca, Avoca, Copacabana, Macmasters, Killcare and Umina beaches.

Since the introduction of the shark meshing program in 1937, there has been one fatality at meshed beaches and 34 “unprovoked shark interactions’’.

DPI figures say more than five million people visit meshed beaches every year.