❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the government's shark drum line program, funding for alternative shark hazard mitigation measures developed by local businesses, and the implementation of coastal shark management zones.
AnsweredQoN 368Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK DRUM LINE PROGRAM
368. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
(1) Is the
Premier aware that a number of Western Australian small businesses have
developed measures that could be implemented now to protect water users from
the shark hazard?
(2) Is the
Premier aware that a number of WA small businesses have developed these
measures at considerable personal cost to the owners, such as re-mortgaging
their homes, and without government support?
(3) Over the
past two years, whose advice has the government taken in deciding the
allocation of funding to assist the development of public shark hazard
mitigation measures?
(4) Will the
government consider reallocating money it announced in December 2013 for drum
lining operations to other shark hazard protection measures, including those
developed by WA small businesses?
(5) Will the
Premier please outline what steps the state government has taken to assist or
lead the development of coastal shark management zones, as described in the
Premier's 10 December 2013 media statement?
(6) Will the
Premier please outline what steps the state government has taken to assist or
lead the development of a ''Tool Kit'' for communities in each
coastal shark management zone, as described in the Premier's 10
December 2013 media statement?
368. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
(1) Is the
Premier aware that a number of Western Australian small businesses have
developed measures that could be implemented now to protect water users from
the shark hazard?
(2) Is the
Premier aware that a number of WA small businesses have developed these
measures at considerable personal cost to the owners, such as re-mortgaging
their homes, and without government support?
(3) Over the
past two years, whose advice has the government taken in deciding the
allocation of funding to assist the development of public shark hazard
mitigation measures?
(4) Will the
government consider reallocating money it announced in December 2013 for drum
lining operations to other shark hazard protection measures, including those
developed by WA small businesses?
(5) Will the
Premier please outline what steps the state government has taken to assist or
lead the development of coastal shark management zones, as described in the
Premier's 10 December 2013 media statement?
(6) Will the
Premier please outline what steps the state government has taken to assist or
lead the development of a ''Tool Kit'' for communities in each
coastal shark management zone, as described in the Premier's 10
December 2013 media statement?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) Yes. Two
rounds of funding to the value of $1.9 million for the applied research program
into non-lethal shark hazard detection and deterrent technologies have been run
through the Office of Science. A number of local businesses have applied for
support through the program.
(2) Submissions
for the applied research program are assessed by the shark hazard research
committee. The application process is highly competitive. Applications are
assessed against a set of selection criteria, with not all applicants
successful in receiving funding.
(3) The shark
hazard research committee oversees the allocation of funding under the applied
research program, focused on shark hazard mitigation measures. The committee
was chaired by the Chief Scientist. Other mitigation measures were developed in
consultation with more than 40 community groups and organisations, including
Surf Life Saving WA and Surfing WA.
(4) The
government has committed $22 million over four years to 2015–16 for a
broad range of shark hazard mitigation measures. This includes $1.9 million to
eight research projects into non-lethal shark hazard detection and deterrent
technologies. Small businesses were able to apply for these grants. Other
measures include beach and aerial patrols contracted through Surf Life Saving
WA, a recently launched SharkSmart website, construction of a watch tower at
Cottesloe beach and a world-class shark monitoring network. Drum lines
represent one measure of the overall shark hazard mitigation strategy
implemented following the seventh fatality in three years from shark attack in
WA waters.
(5)–(6)
The government has successfully implemented the drum line strategy announced on
10 December 2013. Following a review of this strategy, and consistent with the
announcements of December 2013, we will look at the establishment of coastal
shark management zones and appropriate shark hazard mitigation plans, as well
as working with local communities on the tool kits. Initial work on this has
already commenced, with officers from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
and Department of Fisheries meeting with a number of south west local
government authorities on 10 March 2014.
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) Yes. Two
rounds of funding to the value of $1.9 million for the applied research program
into non-lethal shark hazard detection and deterrent technologies have been run
through the Office of Science. A number of local businesses have applied for
support through the program.
(2) Submissions
for the applied research program are assessed by the shark hazard research
committee. The application process is highly competitive. Applications are
assessed against a set of selection criteria, with not all applicants
successful in receiving funding.
(3) The shark
hazard research committee oversees the allocation of funding under the applied
research program, focused on shark hazard mitigation measures. The committee
was chaired by the Chief Scientist. Other mitigation measures were developed in
consultation with more than 40 community groups and organisations, including
Surf Life Saving WA and Surfing WA.
(4) The
government has committed $22 million over four years to 2015–16 for a
broad range of shark hazard mitigation measures. This includes $1.9 million to
eight research projects into non-lethal shark hazard detection and deterrent
technologies. Small businesses were able to apply for these grants. Other
measures include beach and aerial patrols contracted through Surf Life Saving
WA, a recently launched SharkSmart website, construction of a watch tower at
Cottesloe beach and a world-class shark monitoring network. Drum lines
represent one measure of the overall shark hazard mitigation strategy
implemented following the seventh fatality in three years from shark attack in
WA waters.
(5)–(6)
The government has successfully implemented the drum line strategy announced on
10 December 2013. Following a review of this strategy, and consistent with the
announcements of December 2013, we will look at the establishment of coastal
shark management zones and appropriate shark hazard mitigation plans, as well
as working with local communities on the tool kits. Initial work on this has
already commenced, with officers from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
and Department of Fisheries meeting with a number of south west local
government authorities on 10 March 2014.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.