SHARK-spotting drones will hover above Redhead Beach in the lead up to summer, as the Baird government tries to step up its efforts to keep swimmers safe.
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NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair announced a new three-month trial drone program at sites along the coast during a visit to Ballina on Wednesday, as well as the deployment of more drumlines off the North Coast.
Redhead, in Lake Macquarie, will be one of the sites after previous trials in Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
It comes after 17-year-old Cooper Allen was bitten by a shark while surfing at Lighthouse Beach near Ballina on Monday.
“The measures in our $16 million Shark Management Strategy have at every stage been informed by the best-available science, and feedback from local communities,” Mr Blair said on Wednesday.
The government will use private contractors to fly the drones from headland vantage points for one hour in the morning every Thursday, Friday and Sunday until the middle of December.
The drones will fly a three-and-a-half to four kilometre circuit 60 metres above the ocean, with an on-board camera providing real-time vision of the coast.
While Redhead Beach has been shut a number of times in recent years after shark sightings, there have only been two recorded attacks in more than 80 years.
In 2012 Glen Folkard was attacked by a shark while surfing at the beach. It took a bite out of his upper thigh and his best surfboard before dragging him under the water.
The only other attack was in 1932 when Reginald ‘‘Rex’’ Ogilvie, a 24-year-old fitter and lifesaving captain, was swimming when he was attacked three times by a shark.
The Baird government has faced criticism since the attack after it was revealed it had signed contracts worth more than $2.6 million for shark barriers that were never installed.
Mr Baird said on Wednesday that the government had stepped up its efforts to deal with the risk of shark attacks.
“Since October last year we have rolled out a number of strategies including increased surveillance, tagging, smart drum lines, drones and listening stations. These were recommended for trials by the experts,” he said.
Meanwhile Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has said he’s open to the idea of culling of great white sharks during an interview.
“I absolutely put human safety first and foremost in my mind,” he told ABC TV on Wednesday.
The idea of a shark cull has been dismissed by Mr Baird in the past because of doubts over whether the approach worked.
In 2014 the West Australian government abandoned its plans for a systematic shark cull after a 10-week trial saw 172 sharks captured.
