Cutting-Edge Shark Spotting Drones To Be Used at Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Beaches

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A modern fleet of shark-spotting drones will soon patrol 34 beaches across the NSW coastline, including two in Hunter, with the NSW Government today announcing a new $8 million strategy to protect beachgoers from sharks.

 The 2020/21 NSW Shark strategy will see drones, which can detect the size and species of a shark, patrolling Birubi Beach in Port Stephens and Redhead beach in Lake Macquarie. 

“Drone technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, with the devices now able to fly thousands of kilometres, automatically detect the size and species of a shark as well as provide surf lifesaving assistance to distressed swimmers," Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said 

“Under the new program we will continue to deploy 35 SMART Drumlines along the north coast, which will provide ongoing protection to beachgoers and advance what is currently the largest shark tagging program in the world."

“These measures will be complemented by 21 shark detection stations along the coast as well as ongoing shark meshing on 51 beaches between Newcastle and Wollongong."

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce welcomed the announcement. 

“The benefits have been readily evident with this increased aquatic surveillance capability, which has resulted in a multitude of warnings issued to swimmers and surfers about nearby marine life,” Mr Pearce said.

“An added benefit has also been the ability of our pilots to identify swimmers in distress, while conducting these surveillance flights, enabling a speedy response by our lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers that has undoubtedly saved lives.”

Shark Detection for Blacksmiths

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Summer just got a little safer for beachgoers at Blacksmiths with a funding boost for shark protection.

Lake Macquarie Council were successful in their bid to the state government for funding for drone equipment and training for staff on a 14 week trial.

$33, 290 will be put towards the trial as a part of the NSW Government's Shark Observation Grants Program.

Brad Sutton, the Lifestyle Services Manager at coucil said they'll be able to use the footage if they need to, but generally the same protocols if they spot a shark will apply.

Image surf-forecast.com

"We will be able to share that through media releases as well as maybe on our website any aerial photographs that we have of the sharks. But I guess the important thing is and the take home message is that we will act on that information immediately and close the beach as appropriate."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald said, "Improved survelliance on beaches provide a clearer line of vision for surf lifesavers to spot sharks and are also useful for spotting people in distress."

Brad Sutton said the trial will give them a better idea of how operating a drone fits in with lifesavers day-to-day work.

"The drone technology has been proven to be effective is sighting sharks from the air, part of what we will be looking at is how compatible is driving a drone for a lifeguard given their other safety obligations."

In the end though, anything that will keep surfers, swimmers, rock fishers and beachgoers safe at the beach can only be a good thing.

"For every person that is fatally attacked by a shark, 100 people drown on our beaches so our focus is still highly on water safety and promoting those safety messages. This year has been a significantly busy start to the year, in the first two weeks we've had 172 rescues," said Brad Sutton.

BREAKING! Surfer Attacked By Shark North Of Port Stephens

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue helicopter has been called to Seven Mile Beach south of Forster where a man has been bitten bitten a shark.

Paramedics say the 62-year-old man was left with deep lacerations to his foot when he was attacked just after 9am near The Ruins campground, by what's believed to be a great white shark.

Police say he also suffered  puncture wounds to his arm but managed to swim to shore and raise the alarm

It's reported the shark came up underneath the man's surfboard, snapping it in ha;lf.

The helicopter has landed on the helipad at Pacific Palms Bowling Club and will fly the injured man to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Seven Mile Beach has been closed until further notice.

Police from the Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command are working with officers from the Department of  Primary Industries and Fisheries

The Injured Man Gives The Thumbs Up After Arriving At John Hunter Hospital Picture: Fairfax Media

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter Prepares To Transport Shark Attack Victim

The Remains Of The Victim's Surfboard Picture: Fairfax Media

Shark Close Encounter Captured on Film

BY IAN CROUCH

A surfer has been left rattled after a close encounter with a Great White Shark at Caves Beach.

Daniel Caban was riding a wave yesterday afternoon when the 3-and-a-half metre White Pointer breached out of the water behind him where he'd just been.

His quick thinking friend, on the beach, Nathan McLaren managed to capture of a photo of the drama unfolding.