Shark patrols start early
Aerial shark patrols off Bunbury beaches began at the weekend and will run every day during the school holidays.
The patrols started eight weeks earlier than usual and will patrol beaches between Bunbury and Margaret River during the busy holiday period.
After the holidays, the patrols will be scaled back to weekends only until daily patrols begin again at the end of November.
The extra eight weeks of aerial patrols will cost the State Government $650,000.
Premier Colin Barnett said the extra patrols were to provide greater protection to beach users in the South West.
He said the move would bring the regional patrols in line with patrols in the metropolitan area.
“Aerial patrols have proven very useful in spotting potential shark threats and, combined with local government and surf lifesavers on the shore, have enabled beach users to get real time advice on the risks at beaches, ” Mr Barnett said.
Bunbury Surf Life Saving Club president Peter Duncan said the club’s beach patrols would begin on Saturday.
He said lifeguards would monitor the ocean for sharks but was confident they would not impact on swimmers. Mr Duncan could not recall the beach ever being closed because of a big shark being sighted.
“We have a tower there and it’s a given that all patrols look out for sharks,” he said.
“There are never any sharks there but if there is a shark, surf lifesavers will clear the water.”
He said sharks did not come close to Bunbury’s beaches because there was nothing for them to eat nearby. The only sharks Mr Duncan saw regularly in the area were little reef sharks near Hungry Hollow, usually shorter than a metre in length.
“Swim between the flags where the people are,” Mr Duncan said.
“That’s the safest place to be.”
The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopter is based out of Busselton and patrols up and down the South West coast, looking for big sharks.
