Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead has announced the NSW Government is offering $200,000 in funding under the Shark Observation Grants Program to help improve safety for beach goers on the State’s beaches.
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“For a number of years, the NSW Government has allocated grants up to a project total of $30,000 for local surf clubs and councils to improve shark surveillance at a number of the State’s beaches,” Mr Bromhead said.
“In conjunction with the $16 million shark management strategy and the Shark Meshing (bather protection) program, the Observation Tower Grants program funding was increased in 2016-17 to $200,000, and will remain at this level for 2017-18 under the new name of the Shark Observation Grants Program.
“Local coastal councils, Surf Life Saving NSW, the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA) and Marine Rescue NSW will all be invited to apply for funding under this program for observation towers, new observation equipment, emergency evacuation alarms and communication systems on beaches and headlands for effective shark detection, community awareness and enhanced bather safety.
“I encourage local organisations to make an application to share in this funding.”
This announcement follows the steadily increasing numbers of shark sightings and alerts across the Mid Coast. More than 100 alerts detecting tagged sharks in the Great Lakes region have been triggered since last Tuesday (November 14).
Applications for the funding may be made for mobile structures or to compliment fixed observation tower projects and for observation equipment and warning systems to enhance bather safety. Joint applications are encouraged.
A Technical Assessment Panel will review all applications to identify the most beneficial according to the evaluation criteria and make recommendations for funding priorities.
For more information visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fis
