Shark safety group ignored again on drumline trial

A COMMUNITY group formed to improve shark mitigation on the Tweed Coast is furious the NSW Government ignored their pleas for funding for a SMART drumline trial for the second time.

The Tweed Shark Attack Mitigation Group (TSAMG) has been calling on the State Government for the trial after Gold Coast surfer Rob Pedretti was fatally mauled by a shark in the shire in June 2020.

TSAMG member James Owen said NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall promised funding for the trial before last October’s budget and again this year but no money was allocated “yet again”.

“It’s over 12 months since the fatal attack at South Kingscliff beach and the 2021 shark season is in full swing with the whales migrating and the mullet running. People are concerned,” Mr Owen said.

“We know the ocean is the shark’s domain and that we enter it at our own risk, however, when there is technology available that has minimal negative impact on marine life and is proven to reduce the risk of attacks on people, then we should be rolling it out in areas where there have been attacks to protect the community.”

Mr Owen said the NSW Department of Primary Industries said it had confidence SMART drumlines were effective in removing the immediate risk to beachgoers near and far.

He said the department had been waiting on results of a shark survey which also asked the community if they were open to the trial.

“We should already have the results of the survey and there should have been money allocated in the budget to implement a SMART drumline trial if the survey results indicate that is what people want.”