Yes we’re hearing more about shark attacks on the North Coast, but if you’re afraid to go swimming at Tathra or anywhere else on the South Coast this summer you’ll be in the minority, according to a couple of key tourism industry figures.
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Right in the thick of it Rob White from Tathra Beach House Apartments, who is also a member of the Tathra Chamber of Commerce ought to have a good idea of the impact all this shark talk is having.
There is a perception last year’s fatal shark attack at Tathra Beach, and the numerous attacks on North Coast beaches could bring a decline in South Coast tourism numbers.
However Mr White said his trade was not affected last year and said he was gearing up for a busier season this summer.
“Last year it was not a big issue. Although maybe people aren’t swimming out to the Tathra Wharf like they used to,” he said.
“Generally people understand there are sharks in the ocean, but they realise an attack is an incredibly rare occurrence.
“People look at it [last year’s attack] as something that could have happened anywhere.
“I didn’t have a drop in visitor numbers last year, and with a drop in the Australian dollar we’re hoping for a lift this year,” he said.
Mr White said the Chamber of Commerce took the point of view of beach safety as a whole, rather than focussing on sharks.
Last year a trial of local businesses paying to extend the lifeguard season to cover February proved a great success.
“February is a great time of year here, the average temperatures are the same as January but there’s less wind and the water is warmer, but historically there were no lifeguards during the week.
“Tathra Chamber of Commerce, Tathra Beachside Big Four Holiday Park, Tathra Beach House Apartments and Bega Valley Motors are in support of the life guard extension for 2016 so we are confident February will be covered.
“With those life guards we have better water safety in general but if someone in a plane or a boat does spot a shark the life guards can then act on that.”
In Bega Lisa Hocking runs the Information Centre and agreed most of the effect caused by talk of sharks amounted to just that, talk.
“People were talking about sharks but it didn’t stop them coming here for holidays,” she said.
“I heard accommodation might have been down a bit in Tathra, but I don’t know that we had much feedback.
“Yes, people were talking about it but it didn’t stop people coming here for holidays.”
She said her owner children and those of her friend were hesitant about the water after hearing about sharks.
“There was also talk, of a shark in Merimbula Lake, and they bring that up from time to time so it’s still there in their minds.
“With social media now, it’s out there a lot more and we’re hearing about attacks and beach closures much quicker,” she said.
Major efforts to reduce shark attacks on the North Coast lend perspective to reduced risks down south
Drones will be flown above beaches, and 20 listening stations built along the NSW coast to track sharks in real-time, in a $16 million high-tech strategy to combat shark attacks.
The wide-ranging plan to protect swimmers and surfers with eco-friendly barrier nets, new technology and helicopter surveillance, will be announced by the Baird government on Sunday at Coogee Beach.
The five-year program represents a significant funding boost from the $1.5 million spent annually on shark meshing.
Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said NSW would be the first government to trial so many new shark mitigation technologies at once.
The use of shark-detecting drones will start in December, coinciding with the beach holiday season.
Real-time tracking of tagged sharks using 4G technology will meanwhile begin with 10 shark listening stations deployed between Tweed Heads and Forster on the north coast. The stations will include Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Ballina and Evans Head.
Another 10 stations will be built at known shark attack locations.
The SharkSmart app will be upgraded to allow the public to receive shark alerts in near real-time on mobile phones and tablets. A similar system is being used in Western Australia.
North coast towns have been the worst hit by the recent spike in white shark attacks, and will be allocated two of the six barrier nets to be trialled at beaches.
The barriers, developed in Western Australia, reduce the risk of other marine life becoming entangled in the net.
Shark-detecting sonar systems will be trialled at five beaches, including at least one Sydney metropolitan beach.
The Clever Buoy uses sonar to detect and distinguish the type of shark, and sends a signal to an Optus satellite which alerts the local life-saving club.
Sonar buoys would be deployed near the 4G listening stations, to test their accuracy, the government said.
"After considering the advice from experts attending a recent summit in Sydney and consulting with communities including the North Coast, we will take a multi-faceted approach to the issue of detecting and deterring sharks," Mr Blair said.
"We are proud to be the first jurisdiction anywhere in the world to adopt an integrated approach toward keeping our beaches safe."
Helicopter surveillance of the coast will also be significantly boosted, with $3.5 million allocated.
The Baird government last month convened a meeting of international shark experts to consider a shortlist of new technologies that may be appropriate for NSW beaches, in response to rising attacks.
NSW has seen 13 attacks this year, including one fatality. This compares to two fatalities from three attacks in 2014.
While $7.7 million will be spent on the technology trials and surveillance, another $7 million is to be allocated to shark science and research. Annual grants will be offered to encourage new innovation, and more expert staff hired to the tagging program.
Sydney beaches will be included in the trials, with locations to be chosen in consultation with the technology providers, a government spokeswoman said.
