Red tape puts stop to shark barriers
Red tape and confusion is threatening the installation of shark barriers promised for two WA beaches this summer despite the fatal attack near Margaret River on Saturday.
One of the barriers should have been in place at Coogee beach two months ago as part of a trial but the City of Cockburn, which is responsible for the swimming enclosure, has blamed the delay on the State Government.
The other barrier trial is planned for Old Dunsborough beach and was announced by Premier Colin Barnett last month.
But the City of Busselton is still going through the tendering process, despite a Perth company claiming it had the go-ahead from the council.
Form Designs, based in Bibra Lake, is ready to install its Eco Shark Barrier at both beaches.
"We've spent a fortune and now neither may go ahead because of red tape," managing director Edward Khoury said.
Cockburn council approved the company's design but the Department of Lands is holding up the installation.
The department said yesterday: "To facilitate the trial it has been identified that access to Crown land on the seabed is required. Therefore, the department is seeking advice from the appropriate Government agencies concerning the safety of this new technology before issuing a licence for access to the seabed."
_Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett said the delay was frustrating. _
Documents show that Form Designs and the City of Busselton were in detailed talks about the barrier. The company claims the council now wants to install a net despite Mr Barnett saying it had to be a rigid barrier to ensure no other marine life was harmed.
A spokeswoman for the Premier said the council "still intends to complete installation by the end of the year".
The council said it was confident the project would be finished "this summer".
