Shark Barrier Shelved at Lighthouse Beach
Greens Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith will be seeking a meeting with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to discuss shark mitigation alternatives following the announcement that the shark barrier trial at Lighthouse Beach will not go ahead.
“The company installing the barrier, Eco Shark Barrier advised DPI that it was unsafe to install due to adverse environmental conditions. It is the third time they have tried to install the barrier,” said Ms Smith.
“I will be meeting with Mayor David Wright, the Department of Primary Industries and other stakeholders as soon as possible to discuss alternatives to ensure the safety of swimmers and surfers at Lighthouse Beach.”
Eco Shark Barrier identified significant installation and maintenance issues and advised DPI that it was unsafe to install due to adverse environmental conditions which include consistent large swells and sand movement changing the water depth.
The trial at Lighthouse Beach was one of two testing shark barrier technology in Australian east coast conditions - the other is the Global Marine Enclosures trial at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head, which is continuing.