As the government doubles its shark management budget, the community calls for extended drone coverage
The State Government has doubled the pot of funds for its shark management program to $86.6 million in its recent budget. The existing funding for 80 drones across NSW was for the peak summer period, 9am to 5pm, with winter surveillance by 13 drones – including three on the Northern Beaches – due to end 30 June.
Maria Psillakis, whose husband Mercury was tragically killed by a shark last September while he was surfing at Dee Why, told PL: “Are we doing everything we can to change things? This is why safety needs to be considered dawn until dusk, 365 days a year, and not just summer. All Sydney beaches need to have access to resources such as surveillance drones.”
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby has welcomed the doubling of funds, but is calling on the government to extend the program to ensure drone surveillance from dawn till dusk, 365 days a year.
“As beach users, we use the beach from dawn to dusk. Surfers, fishers and other ocean users are crying out that they have never seen more sharks. A recent survey I conducted with 780 respondents showed that 90% said they were apprehensive about sharks since the attacks (in the nine months), and have changed the way they’re using the water.
“And 80% supported more drone surveillance to help them feel safer in the water.
“We know the drones work, and we’ve got the technology. We just need to roll out a program that matches the level of risk management that the community expects.
“We want to restore confidence in the water, and that confidence should be founded in effective risk management.”
Ms Scruby said more finessing of the drone program was required, with the government’s SharkSmart app ‘outdated’ as it was not giving beachgoers the data they needed.
“If we can check the surf on a surf cam, why can’t we check real-time drone data for ourselves?”
The Premier’s office confirmed to Channel 10 on 23 June that an extension to the winter drone program contract was being finalised.