Get ready kids! Balmoral’s skate park is set for a $500,000 makeover. Here’s what we know.Sydney Harbour’s first shark listening station is in the water at Balmoral
Sydney Harbour’s first Shark Listening Station has been installed at Balmoral beach. Image: NSW Department of Primary Industry.
By ANNA USHER
Swimmers will receive a real-time alert when a tagged shark is close to local beaches, after the NSW Government installed the first listening stations in Sydney Harbour, one anchored at Balmoral.
The Mosman station – and a second at Lady Bay in Sydney’s east – can detect tagged predators swimming within 500 metres.
The listening device will “ping” tagged sharks in the area, sending an alert to the SharkSmart app. Image: NSWDPI.
Alerts are then sent to mobile phones via the SharkSmart app once a shark is pinged, with the buoys designed to monitor its movement as it enters and exits the Harbour.
New South Wales currently has 37 stations along the coastline that track 1,698 white sharks, 938 tiger sharks, and 374 bull sharks.
Meanwhile, 51 shark nets between Newcastle and Wollongong will be reinstalled along the coast this week as part of a $120 million state government investment.
Watch: Shark Listening Station installed at Balmoral:
The Minns government has also begun deploying 305 SMART drumlines, which allow for the tagging of sharks, from Tweed Heads to Bega.
Drone surveillance will also be boosted, with 73 drones working across 97 beaches from 6:15 am to 5 pm, to coincide with increased daylight hours.
A female Bull Shark being tagged in Sydney Harbour. Image: NSWDPI.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, addressed shark net concerns in a statement on shark deterrents.
“I acknowledge there are some mixed views on shark nets, but we will use all tools available to enhance the safety of people swimming at our beaches, and that includes nets rolling out on 1 September,” she said.
“The aim of the new Harbour listening stations is to improve our understanding of bull shark movements in the harbour and provide real-time notifications to the SharkSmart app when tagged sharks are detected nearby.
The new buoy is visible from the shoreline and will remain in place permanently. Image: NSWDPI.
“We are investing in our science research to understand sharks better and use that to enhance our program to make our beaches safer for swimmers, surfers and families.
“While the risk of a shark interaction can never be eliminated entirely, everyone can take simple steps to reduce their risk, including checking local conditions and downloading the SharkSmart app.”
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