Politicians promise shark solution but it could be a year before nets are in place at Ballina beaches
NSW politicians are promising a trial of meshing at their shark-plagued beaches in time for the Christmas school holidays, following yet another attack yesterday.
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NSW politicians are promising a trial of meshing at their shark-plagued beaches in time for the Christmas school holidays, following yet another attack yesterday.
But a marine expert says it will take at least a year to wade through the red tape before even one net is rolled out.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair promised the six-month trial in the wake of a great white attack at Broken Head, near Byron Bay, yesterday — the latest in a spate of incidents, some fatal, stretching back two years.
Marine biologist Daryl McPhee, an expert called in to do independent research on sharks for the West Australian Government in 2011, said it would take at least a year due to bureaucracy.
The attack is the third in as many weeks on the NSW northern coast.
The State Government is moving to put in place legislation to allow the shark nets but parliament does not sit again until November 8.
Once legislation is passed, approval must be sought from the Federal Government for an exception to the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The Federal Government must make a decision within 20 business days of receiving the application which could also involve an environmental impact study being completed.
Despite the nets being fast-tracked, Bond University’s Dr McPhee said there was still a lot of paperwork ahead.
He said it could be difficult to be granted an exemption for the Conservation Act and an EIS may be needed.
“Choosing an area where the nets can be deployed will be complex matter,” he said. “My understanding is this could take about a year or so.”
The State Government remains confident nets will be in place in weeks.
“The target is to make sure we can get these nets in the water before the summer holidays,” Mr Blair said.
The legislation will be introduced in the final two sitting weeks for the year and is expected to pass through both Houses with the Government and Labor Opposition both supporting it.
The State Government has already started negotiating with contractors so the measures can be put in place as soon as approval is received.
Mr Blair said the state had been working closely with its federal counterparts on the trial.
“Introducing legislation at a state level makes it a lot more streamlined process to get the necessary approvals through the state legislation, to then also complement the exemptions we would get through the federal government,” he said.
Mr Blair said the State Government was also trialling the use of other technologies such as drones and phone apps containing shark warnings to help reduce the nets’ impact on other marine wildlife.
“Some of the modifications we are looking at is maybe deploying the nets only in daylight hours,” he said.
Labor Party northcoast spokesman Walt Secord said Christmas was not soon enough.
“I think they should be in as early as tomorrow,” he said. “The State Government promised months ago.
“They held a shark summit a year ago. They said they would write to the Prime Minister about a month ago.”
Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said the green light had already been given for the use of drumlins in the water.
“We are continuing to engage with the NSW Government on the deployment of nets, noting that it requires the finalisation of the NSW approval process before the matter can be formally considered by the Commonwealth,” Mr Frydenberg said.
He said he would consider any application made in accordance with the legislation.
“I was scared he was going to get me”
THE bearded Byron Bay surfer attacked by a great white shark at Broken Head yesterday said he did not start to panic until he felt a slick of blood oozing from his thigh.
Jade Fitzpatrick, 36, said he saw a flurry of fins in the moments right before the 2.6m fish wrapped its jaws around both his thigh and surfboard, about 200m from shore at 7.30am.
“I saw him come up out of the water and he’s come up in the air and then his tail flap around as he swam straight down,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“So I started paddling — I was scared he was going to get me,
“Halfway in I started to panic because I touched my leg and it was all slick from the blood.”
With blood streaming from his three puncture wounds, Mr Fitzpatrick paddled as fast as he could to shore where some people who had seen the attack bandaged his injuries. After a few happy snaps quickly shared on social media, the injured surfer made his way to the emergency department of Byron Central Hospital with the help of a friend.
He was released before 11am NSW time.
Some of the 15 surfers at the break said it looked like the shark was trying to wrestle him off his surfboard before swimming away.
Mr Fitzpatrick said he could thank a fin on the bottom of his surfboard for being able to walk away from the attack.
“I think the fin has cut him and then he’s let go,” he said.
“I’m one of the lucky ones.
“There are people around here who’ve lost limbs and their lives.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said he did not support the installation of shark nets as a solution to the spate of shark attacks on northern NSW surfers.
“I don’t want animals dying just to make us feel safe,” he said.
Surf Lifesaving NSW immediately closed all beaches in the area, including the patrolled Main Beach at Byron Bay.
However dozens of surfers continued to ride waves along the coast.
Just an hour after the attack a 3m great white was spotted at nearby Wategos Beach, just north around the Cape at Byron.
Gold Coast surfers Kayne Grasso, 25, and Tara Engel, 24, paddled out at Broken Head just a few hours after the attack. They said they had no idea there had been an attack earlier in the day, despite signs having been erected along the coast.
Further north on the coast, Suffolk Park local Taras Didyk, 38, was one of about 50 surfers in the water at The Pass.
“(Sharks) are everywhere,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you surf, it’s not going to stop you.”
He said the shark attack “situation” in his town was getting ridiculous.
“I’m all for shark nets because it will save human lives and something needs to be done now because this is getting ridiculous,” Mr Didyk said.
“I think if they need to speak to people they need to speak with fishos or the people who’re in the water, not the tree-hugging people who’ve never put a toe in the water.
“I don’t want my kids to be scared about going in the ocean.”
About 3.30pm a 4m fish was reported to shark sighting application Dorsal at Flat Rock, just north of Ballina.