❓ The Minister for Fisheries outlines the Cook Labor government's $17.3 million shark hazard mitigation strategy, detailing funding allocation for helicopter patrols, shark notification systems, deterrent rebates, and shark barriers, including new barriers for Fremantle and Cottesloe.
AnsweredQoN 519Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHARKS — HAZARD MITIGATION
519. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Fisheries:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
efforts to keep the community safe.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's world-leading $17.3
million shark hazard mitigation strategy is keeping Western Australians safe in
the water?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how this funding is delivering new shark barriers?
519. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for
Fisheries:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
efforts to keep the community safe.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government's world-leading $17.3
million shark hazard mitigation strategy is keeping Western Australians safe in
the water?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house how this funding is delivering new shark barriers?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for her question and for her
unwavering commitment to keeping water users safe, as is, of course, the
whole Cook government's commitment to safety for our community. Whether
it is the fantastic work of the Minister for Police with concealed weapons, or
any other aspect of the Cook government, community safety is a major priority.
I could speak at length on the shark mitigation strategy, but I will not. I will keep it succinct, even
though it is the strongest evidence-based shark mitigation program in
the world.
Our shark mitigation strategy is
comprehensive, wideranging and uses every possible lever—sorry,
Minister for Housing!—to keep ocean users and our coastal communities
as safe as possible. A total of $17.3 million was allocated in the 2024–25
state budget to secure the future of this important strategy and ensure continued
delivery. Of that funding, $12.6 million will go to secure ongoing delivery of
helicopter patrols and vital frontline safety services provided by Surf Life
Saving WA. The helicopter patrols are a crucial
component of the strategy and operate in the metropolitan area and the south
west from November to April each year. These patrols feed into the shark
notification systems, with 17 shark warning towers located at strategic points along our coast as well as near-time,
real-time notification by the SharkSmart app and website. It is great to
see so many people using those tools, with over 170 000 people downloading the
SharkSmart app. They go from Perth all the way to Esperance and into the Swan
River.
In so many ways, our shark mitigation
strategy is helping people to enjoy the beaches with confidence. There is a $200
personal shark deterrent rebate, beach emergency number signs and, of course, a
rapid response on whale carcass management.
The one that I have not mentioned is our support for shark barriers to
provide safe swimming enclosures. They are different from shark nets; they are
a rigid barrier designed to prevent sharks entering an enclosed area and
designed not to trap marine wildlife. There are currently eight of these ring
enclosures in WA, with the most recent in the member's electorate at
Bicton Baths in the Swan River.
I am very pleased to announce that we
have recently provided support for the installation of two new shark barriers:
one, member for Fremantle, at Bathers Beach in the City of Fremantle; and a replacement
barrier for Cottesloe Beach. The City of Fremantle has been very unfortunate to
see a number of shark interactions in and around its local area, and it has
been working in partnership with the Town of East Fremantle to investigate a range
of shark mitigation and barrier options for its beaches on the Swan River. From
this work, the City of Fremantle identified Bathers Beach as its preferred
option for a shark barrier and has been seeking funding support. I was very
pleased, on behalf of the Cook Labor government, to receive that proposal and
support it with $500 000 towards the new barrier. It will be located right in
the heart of Fremantle. I know that the small businesses around that area are
eagerly awaiting it as it will activate the area.
There is one for the member for
Cottesloe. Listen to this, member for Cottesloe! If he decides to go
independent, he can use this: the replacement for the Cottesloe Beach barrier
comes five years after the Town of Cottesloe took the initiative to install the
barrier in 2019 and it is now reaching the end of its life. It is one of the
most iconic beach destinations and the barrier has been a great success. Shark
barriers are a great addition to local areas and with funding available to
support the purchase and installation under the Cook government's
world-leading shark mitigation strategy, I encourage councils to consider
whether a barrier is the right solution for their area. It is a fantastic
strategy delivering great outcomes and helping to keep communities safe. I thank
the member for Bicton for her question.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party with the last question.
unwavering commitment to keeping water users safe, as is, of course, the
whole Cook government's commitment to safety for our community. Whether
it is the fantastic work of the Minister for Police with concealed weapons, or
any other aspect of the Cook government, community safety is a major priority.
I could speak at length on the shark mitigation strategy, but I will not. I will keep it succinct, even
though it is the strongest evidence-based shark mitigation program in
the world.
Our shark mitigation strategy is
comprehensive, wideranging and uses every possible lever—sorry,
Minister for Housing!—to keep ocean users and our coastal communities
as safe as possible. A total of $17.3 million was allocated in the 2024–25
state budget to secure the future of this important strategy and ensure continued
delivery. Of that funding, $12.6 million will go to secure ongoing delivery of
helicopter patrols and vital frontline safety services provided by Surf Life
Saving WA. The helicopter patrols are a crucial
component of the strategy and operate in the metropolitan area and the south
west from November to April each year. These patrols feed into the shark
notification systems, with 17 shark warning towers located at strategic points along our coast as well as near-time,
real-time notification by the SharkSmart app and website. It is great to
see so many people using those tools, with over 170 000 people downloading the
SharkSmart app. They go from Perth all the way to Esperance and into the Swan
River.
In so many ways, our shark mitigation
strategy is helping people to enjoy the beaches with confidence. There is a $200
personal shark deterrent rebate, beach emergency number signs and, of course, a
rapid response on whale carcass management.
The one that I have not mentioned is our support for shark barriers to
provide safe swimming enclosures. They are different from shark nets; they are
a rigid barrier designed to prevent sharks entering an enclosed area and
designed not to trap marine wildlife. There are currently eight of these ring
enclosures in WA, with the most recent in the member's electorate at
Bicton Baths in the Swan River.
I am very pleased to announce that we
have recently provided support for the installation of two new shark barriers:
one, member for Fremantle, at Bathers Beach in the City of Fremantle; and a replacement
barrier for Cottesloe Beach. The City of Fremantle has been very unfortunate to
see a number of shark interactions in and around its local area, and it has
been working in partnership with the Town of East Fremantle to investigate a range
of shark mitigation and barrier options for its beaches on the Swan River. From
this work, the City of Fremantle identified Bathers Beach as its preferred
option for a shark barrier and has been seeking funding support. I was very
pleased, on behalf of the Cook Labor government, to receive that proposal and
support it with $500 000 towards the new barrier. It will be located right in
the heart of Fremantle. I know that the small businesses around that area are
eagerly awaiting it as it will activate the area.
There is one for the member for
Cottesloe. Listen to this, member for Cottesloe! If he decides to go
independent, he can use this: the replacement for the Cottesloe Beach barrier
comes five years after the Town of Cottesloe took the initiative to install the
barrier in 2019 and it is now reaching the end of its life. It is one of the
most iconic beach destinations and the barrier has been a great success. Shark
barriers are a great addition to local areas and with funding available to
support the purchase and installation under the Cook government's
world-leading shark mitigation strategy, I encourage councils to consider
whether a barrier is the right solution for their area. It is a fantastic
strategy delivering great outcomes and helping to keep communities safe. I thank
the member for Bicton for her question.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of
the Liberal Party with the last question.
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