DESPITE an increase in local shark sightings this summer period, it could still be a while before South Coast beaches see the benefit of new shark prevention technology.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
South Coast MP Shelley Hancock said the possibility of $100,000 funds for shark-detecting sonar technology would be trialled at busy Sydney beaches before the South Coast.
Mrs Hancock said the trial depended on whether the Liberal government was re-elected in March.
“This is to trial new technology, but it’s not certain how it would work yet,” she said.
“If it works it is better in my view and a way to avoid scenes like we saw in Western Australia which resulted in shark culling.
“South Coast beaches are second only to Sydney’s beaches and as a result I can see that our beaches would be at the top of the list for the technology after its trial in Sydney.”
Mrs Hancock said netting was not necessarily successful and could be damaging to marine life.
“The sonar technology sounds exciting and I’m very interested in how it will work.”
If re-elected the Liberal government also promised to: provide $200,000 a year to summer aerial patrols and $30,000 a year to councils to fund local shark spotting measures, including observation towers, binoculars, and training for local surf life savers.