No place for barrier in shark policy
The group behind the State's first shark barrier says it could walk away from WA without State Government support.
Pylons were installed at Coogee beach yesterday as the first step in installing Form Designs Australia's eco shark barrier for a four-month trial.
Managing director Edward Khoury said he was relieved the project was taking shape but disappointed by the lack of Government support.
He was frustrated the Government had not considered the barrier when reviewing its sharks policy and wanted it to play a role in judging the trial.
"We may need to take our technologies to another part of the world where they can appreciate it," he said.
Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said his department was focused on research and tagging but he had "great interest" in the Form Designs trial.
The Government's policy was also attacked yesterday by Sharon Burden, mother of shark victim Kyle Burden.
She criticised the lack of scientific evidence behind the policy and said the environmental impact could be devastating.
She said she expected substantial evidence to back the policy, not just "human beings come before sharks".
The death of Gracetown surfer Chris Boyd last month reignited debate about sharks.
Gracetown councillors this week voted in favour of a new phone tower aimed at improving reception in and around the town, in part to aid emergency services. * *
