It seems that the DPI have listened to the community and have decided to abandon the ECo Shark Barrier proposal..
My position is that if the state government intend on pursuing some kind of shark netting, they need to follow the gold coast model, regardless, for now this is a good result.
Cr Ben Smith
NSW Department of Primary Industry
STATEMENT
BALLINA BARRIER TRIAL
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) today announced the Eco Shark Barrier trial at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, is in the process of being discontinued. Following a third unsuccessful attempt to install the barrier, Eco Shark Barrier Pty Ltd identified significant installation and maintenance issues. Eco Shark Barrier advised DPI that it was unsafe to install due to adverse environmental conditions. These conditions include consistent large swells and sand movement changing the water depth. The trial was one of two testing barrier technology in Australian east coast conditions – the other is Global Marine Enclosures (GME) trial at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head, which is continuing. NSW DPI will continue to work closely with the Ballina Shire community to explore complementary shark mitigation technologies included in the Strategy and suited to local conditions. Along with the barrier trial, the Strategy includes aerial surveillance, a shark tagging program and related VR4G listening stations, and trials of smart drumlines, sonar ‘Clever Buoys’ and drone surveillance.
MEDIA:
Mark O’Brien, 6391 3686