Albany beach on list for shark net

Albany MLA Peter Watson says Middleton Beach should be one of the first to get a shark-proof barrier because beaches in Perth and the South West already have patrols to protect beachgoers.

His comments come after Middleton Beach was one of 22 beaches identified in a State Government report as suitable locations for the installation of shark-proof enclosures.

Other beaches were in the metropolitan area and the South West, which included Gracetown, Dunsborough and Busselton.

The report, released last Friday on the back of the Government’s decision to abandon its drum-line shark culling policy, identified Middleton Beach as a suitable place for a shark net to keep swimmers safe because it was sheltered from wind and waves.

However, Premier Colin Barnett announced the first trial shark-proof enclosure would be installed at Old Dunsborough beach.

He said the trial would test the suitability of beach enclosures in protecting swimmers from sharks, and was similar to barrier systems operating on the Gold Coast.

Mr Watson said he was disappointed Albany had missed out on being the first to implement a shark-proof barrier as the area was isolated from regular air patrols.

“We’re isolated down here and there are just as many people who come down here in summer and swim, and we want the same safety as the people in Perth,” he said.

Albany Surf Life Saving Club vice-president Rob Lucas said the club would keep an open mind about shark-proof nets at the popular the beach in the future.

“If it makes our beaches safer, then we’d be all for it, that’s what we are about,” he said.

“We’ve noticed over a period of four or five years that the numbers of swimmers have dropped off, and if people are swimming they are in closer,” he said.

“If there was a net there, and it increases the number of people swimming again, we’d be all for it.”

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