Newcastle's Popular Coastline to Receive Enhanced Shark Drone Surveillance
In response to a series of concerning shark incidents this summer, the New South Wales government has announced a significant expansion of its shark safety program. A $4.2 million investment will fund enhanced surveillance, with one of Newcastle's most frequented coastal stretches now set to be monitored from above.
Key Beaches Added to Drone Coverage
The expansion, announced on Sunday, means that Bar Beach, Dixon Park, and Merewether will join the list of locations under constant aerial watch. This initiative is part of a broader weekend rollout that added 30 new beaches to the Surf Life Saving NSW drone program—19 in Sydney and 11 in regional areas.
This development integrates the Cooks Hill to Merewether corridor with other Hunter region beaches already under surveillance, including Nobbys, Redhead, Catherine Hill Bay, Fingal Bay, and Birubi Point. Furthermore, drone operations will now run seven days a week until the conclusion of the April school holidays, providing consistent oversight during a high-risk period.
Response to an Unprecedented Week of Attacks
This funding boost for new research, real-time tracking, and expanded drone surveillance comes in the wake of what authorities describe as an unprecedented number of shark attacks. Over a recent 48-hour span, four separate attacks occurred off the NSW coast. Tragically, one of these incidents resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy from his injuries in hospital last Saturday.
The program's enhancement aims to keep beachgoers safer by improving early detection capabilities and enabling faster public warnings.
Substantial Increase in Surveillance Capability
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce, highlighted the scale of the expansion. He stated that the new funding package represents a 90 per cent increase on the current shark surveillance drone program. Mr Pearce characterised this as a "significant enhancement" that will result in more drones patrolling popular east coast beaches and an additional 35,000 flying hours.
"We know our SLS drones are an effective eye in the sky when it comes to early shark detection and warning beach users," Mr Pearce said.
He provided current summer statistics to underscore the program's existing activity:
- 50 Surf Life Saving NSW drones operating from Tweed to Bega.
- 29,431 flights completed over 8,044 flying hours.
- 461 sharks sighted during this period.
- 170 countermeasures enacted, including beach evacuations, siren alerts, and rescue vessel deployments.
Government Focus on Education and Timely Warnings
Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, emphasised that the investment addresses the critical need for better public education and community safety messaging regarding shark behaviour. This is particularly important around significant weather events, such as storms and heavy rainfall, which are known to increase shark activity and attack risks.
"Keeping people safe is our priority, which is why we've committed an additional $4.2 million to strengthen shark safety measures," Ms Moriarty stated.
"Recent shark incidents following storms and heavy rainfall have highlighted the importance of clear, practical information for people using the water. This funding will help expand drone surveillance, improve education, and ensure timely warnings, so swimmers and surfers can make informed decisions about when to enter the water."
The Minister acknowledged the complexity of shark safety, noting, "There's no single solution, and no government can ever promise to make the water completely safe, which is why we're using a range of tools to keep people informed and as safe as possible."
The enhanced surveillance marks a proactive step by authorities to mitigate risks and protect the community enjoying Newcastle's iconic coastline.
